Dick Turpin, probably a Thriller Picture Library cover
Cecil Langley Doughty was born in Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, on 7 November 1913 and studied at Battersea Polytechnic. He started his comics career on PM Productions' Starflash and Challenger Comics, and then Amex's A Classic in Pictures, for which he drew adaptations of Oliver Twist and Lorna Doone. In 1948 started working for The Children's Newspaper and the Amalgamated Press' Knock-Out. He went on to draw "Terry Brent" for School Friend, before finding his métier drawing historical adventure strips for Thriller Picture Library. His first issue was an adaptation of William Harrison Ainsworth's Windsor Castle, and he drew numerous stories featuring Robin Hood and Dick Turpin, among others. In the late 50s he drew for Express Weekly, and took over the Eagle's "Jack O'Lantern" from Robert Ayton. Other comics he drew for included Sun, Top Spot, Swift, Girl and June. From 1962 he was a prolific illustrator for Look and Learn and its rivals World of Wonder and Tell Me Why. He also illustrated book covers. He retired from commercial work in 1982 to concentrating on painting. He died in Carmarthen on 26 October 1985.
References[]
- Alan Clark, Dictionary of British Comic Artists, Writers and Editors, The British Library, 1998, p. 51
