Val Reading drew for story papers and comics for nearly 50 years. His earliest work was in Ching-Ching's Own in the 1880s. He began his long association with the Amalgamated Press in the 1890s, working on Union Jack for nearly 20 years.
Other papers his work appeared in include Boy's Leader, 'The Marvel, The Gem, Boy's Friend, Boy's Realm, Pluck, Girl's Friend, Girl's Home, Bow Bells, Halfpenny Marvel, Nelson Lee, Illustrated Chips (for whom he is said to have once drawn "Weary Willie and Tired Tim"), Sport and Adventure, Penny Pictorial, Cheer Boys Cheer, Home Circle, Girl's Reader, Champion annual, Hulton's Adventure Annual, Playtime Annual and The Big Budget.
There are two black and white artists called Reading in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. George James Reading was born in Islington in the second quarter of 1857, and died in Surrey in the third quarter of 1938. Willis Child Reading was born in St Pancras, London, in the third quarter of 1869, and died in Surrey in the fourth quarter of 1943. They appear to have been brothers, sons of Joseph Reading, a clerk, and his wife Elizabeth. Whether either of them worked under the name "Val" is unknown.
References[]
- Alan Clark, Dictionary of British Comic Artists, Writers and Editors, The British Library, 1998, p. 142