1967 was the ’summer of love’, the Beatles had released Sgt. Pepper and had a number one hit that encapsulated the spirit of the times, with “all you need is love”.

I was a 13 year old teenager completely immersed in the music and psychedelia of the time, so when I heard that the Beatles were going to release psychedelic posters of themselves, I couldn’t wait to get hold of them.

The day the posters were released I went into my local branch of WH Smith Newsagents, and found them – trouble is they were expensive; 10/6 (or 52.5p in new money). No problem, I would save up my newspaper round money and get them later.

Clockwork Orange is a notoriously violent film, that was withdrawn for public showing by the Director Stanley Kubrick.

The film could actually still be seen by adults all over the world – apart from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The ban only applied to the UK, as Kubrick considered our society to be too inherently violent for any art-form that might provoke further violence. 

He was concerned by newspaper reports of  ’copycat’ attacks after the release of Clockwork Orange.

He also received death threats, and was advised by British police to withdraw the film for his own safety!

Captain America - Jim Steranko cover #111

Silver Surfer - Jack Kirby cover Fantastic Four #72

I have sold the majority of my childhood comic collection, but have regained pleasure from comics by painting some of my favorite covers.

I used to draw and paint entirely by eye, which involved a lot of rubbing out. However I don’t see the point of this now, when I can easily trace the image I want, which just leaves me to concentrate on the painting.

Atom Heart Mother has always been my favourite Pink Floyd album, even though the members of  the band are rather embarrassed by the pomposity of  it. However I’m not the only one who thinks this is a great soundscape.  

“If you were to ask anyone to name a Pink Floyd LP their immediate reaction would no doubt be Dark Side of The Moon or The Wall (- two very superb LPs). However, I can’t remember the last time I heard anyone mention this LP, which is a shame…but in that respect it makes Atom Heart Mother a true gem; something that is overshadowed in many ways yet shines through, in my opinion, perhaps more than many other acclaimed Pink Floyd work.

Jonathon Ross is a big comics fan and he produced a documentary for the BBC on his favourite artist Steve Ditko.

Ditko wasn’t my favourite, but I thought he was a great visual story teller, and I was impressed enough to paint one of his characters called ‘The Creeper’ which he created for DC Comics.

Ditko was influenced by the philosophies of Ayn Rand and this is reflected in the characters he created such as ‘Hawk and Dove’, also for DC Comics.

It wasn’t just the Marvel stories that captivated me as a teenager, it was also the artwork. Marvel has a very talented crop of artists but my all-time favourite is Jim Steranko.

I first came across him in Strange Tales when he started illustrating Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. The artwork just seemed to be on a whole different level, heavily influenced by the psychedelia movement of the sixties.

One double page spread I was particularly fascinated by comprised of 16 panels without a single word, but which still was able to move the story forward!

Most male artists have a beautiful woman as their inspiration, but my muse was Marvel Comics and especially the Silver Surfer. In my teenage years when I wasn’t planning to be the next Lennon & McCartney, I decided to become a great artist. I hadn’t a clue how to paint, but I went to my local artists shop and got myself an easel, some oil paints and brushes.