Martin Rowson will be exploring the origins of visual satire in the depths of pre-history, and how it established itself as an entrenched part of the British Political landscape in the 18th century, leading to over 300 years of uninterrupted mockery of Britain’s leaders. From there, he intends to explore how the medium, with particular reference to the way he has depicted both Tony Blair and the current Coalition Government.

He will also discuss the built in capacity for cartoons to offend, and question the motives of those who choose to be offended. The talk will contain disturbing images and very strong language.

Martin Rowson is am award winning cartoonist and writer whose work appears regularly in The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, The Daily Mirror, Index on Censorship and many other publications. His books include graphic novelisations of The Waste Land, Tristram Shandy (recently translated into German) and Gulliver’s Travels, due for publication by Atlantic in March 2011. He is also the one time cartoonist laureate to the Mayor of London and has twice been a vice-president of the Zoological Society of London. He lives in south-east London with his wife and two children, when they turn up.