Francis Grose recognised the popularity of caricature in late eighteenth-century Britain and published this how-to guide for amateurs, with a series of simple drawings of different exaggerations of facial features. In an accompanying essay, he describes caricature as a form of social policing, suggesting that the threat of being caricatured will make people behave when all other warnings have failed!

Sometimes designs for caricatures would be sent to professional caricaturists to be drawn and printed. This image satirises academics from Aberdeen’s King’s College. It was designed by a Mr Ross who studied medicine at Aberdeen, and was dismissed from his role as a naval surgeon for making caricatures of his colleagues. It was produced by John Kay, an Edinburgh printmaker.

Caricature of James Shiels by Charlie Kelly

Aberdeen, 20^th century

Caricature isn’t just done by professional artists. Charlie Kelly was a member of The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians. He produced caricatures of friends and colleagues in the labour movement in the 1970s and 80s ‘off his own back’. Kelly drew Shiels with a large head and referenced Shiels’ involvement in repairs to the Trades Union Social Club and his passion for hillwalking and golf. Have you ever caricatured someone you know?