Martyn Turner
Martyn Turner (born 1948) is an English-born Irish political cartoonist, caricaturist and writer, working for the Irish Times since 1971. His cartoons appear four times a week in the newspaper, parodying current events. Life. Early life and education. Turner was born in Wanstead, Essex and grew up in London. He was educated at Bancroft's School. In 1967, he went to Belfast, enrolling at Queen's University Belfast where he read geography. Turner was the first member of his family to go to university. Returning to London for his first Christmas break from college, he learned that  his grandparents came from both Irish Catholic and Scottish Presbyterian backgrounds. He declared himself neutral in all matters northern Irish. Living in Belfast exposed Turner to the sectarianism of the city and he experienced the initial years of the Troubles. Northern Ireland politics have been a major theme in his work. Career. Around 1970, he began drawing professionally for the "Sunday News". Upon graduation, he joined the Belfast current affairs magazine "Fortnight", where he became assistant editor, editor and then co-editor with Tom Hadden. In 1976 he was made political cartoonist at the "Irish Times", where he still draws  four cartoons a week and writes occasionally. The Cartoonists and Writers Syndicate / New York Times distribute some of Turner's cartoons to over 200 journals and newspapers around the world. He has also worked for various British publications such as "The Scotsman", "Business AM", "The Business", "The Sunday Express", "The Independent", the "Guardian" and "The Spectator" and the Paris-based current affairs magazine "Courrier International". Personal life. Turner lives in County Kildare with his wife. In 2020, he became an Irish citizen through naturalisation. He has one son and two grandsons. He is a lifelong supporter of Leyton Orient. Recognition . Turner has been recognised and honoured with: Publications. Solo works. In 2007,2008,2009,2010 and 2011 The Irish Times published a calendar of Turner cartoons, given away free with the newspaper