Jim’s cartooning career

Jim’s brief but eventful cartooning career is fully described in his book Drawing the Days of Blunder and Lightning by James Lynch (2015). Published by Steele Roberts Wellington: http://www.steeleroberts.co.nz. See the book section for details and how to order.

The 1984 cartoon which epitomises the transition from the Muldoon era to the Lange/Douglas era

Jim was a practising political cartoonist from 1980 to 1986 during which time he published weekly in the Taranaki Daily News and fortnightly in The New Zealand Times. Jim published all his political works under the pseudonym of “James”. His full compendium of work numbering around 400 published items is lodged with the New Zealand Cartoon Archive in the Alexander Turnbull library. In 1983 he was runner up to Peter Bromhead in the cartoonists section of the prestigious QANTAS Press Awards. He retired from cartooning in 1986 to concentrate on his management system and training design business.

Early years

Jim showed artistic ability as a child and won numerous art contests at school and in A&P shows at Hukerenui. He also won a Northland-wide school art prize. On leaving school he was unable to pursue an art career due to limited opportunity so he joined the Public service and painted and drew for fun.

Published or commissioned works in those pre- cartooning days included two items commissioned by the Northern News in Kaikohe and a Christmas card for the mayor of Kaikohe, Walter Lomax.

In 1980 his drawings for a training publication which he did for the New Plymouth branch of the Social Welfare Department attracted attention and he approached the Taranaki Daily News with samples of his cartooning work to see if they would publish them. He was accepted as the Daily News weekly cartoonist.

Taranaki Daily News

Jim cartooned for the Taranaki Daily News from February 1980 when his first cartoon was published until 24th February 1986 when he retired because of work pressures from his business.

Jim provided a weekly cartoon to the Daily News for most weeks over this period and had 297 political cartoons published as well as several general cartoons and illustrations for local events and issues.

Following is a gallery of selected cartoons form the Daily News – all of which are lodged in the New Zealand cartoon archive.

All of Jim’s Daily News cartoons can be viewed at the New Zealand Cartoon Archive.

New Zealand Times

Jim cartooned for the New Zealand Times from February 1980 when his first cartoon was published until March 1985. Jim provided a fortnightly cartoon to the New Zealand Times for most of this period and had 84 political cartoons published during this time.

Following is a gallery of selected cartoons form the New Zealand Times – all of which are lodged in the New Zealand cartoon archive.

All of Jim's New Zealand Times cartoons can be viewed at the New Zealand Cartoon Archive.

Qantas Press Award

In 1983 Jim finished runner up in the prestigious QANTAS Press Awards with a portfolio of published cartoons. Following is a gallery of the portfolio which won the prize.

Order a cartoon

You can order an electronic copy or mounted and signed copy on card direct from the author by contacting him through the email below.

Note; all cartoons are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without the express permission of the author. Please contact through the email link below for permission to reproduce.