Illustrations by Clifford Harper

This collection contains original illustrations by Clifford Harper for the Guardian.

A self-taught graphic artist, Harper uses a distinct style of bold illustrations.

Harper first joined a Cumberland commune in 1968. One of the founders of the London Eel Pie Island commune in the late 1960s, Harper has remained involved in the international anarchist movement.

Clifford Harper was an illustrator for a number of 1970s radical publications, including Undercurrents, Cienfuegos Press Anarchist Review and his self-published Class War Comix. He has worked for many radical and alternative publications, as well as many of the main British newspapers, including the Guardian.

He became a regular contributor to the Guardian, contributing illustrations for the 'Country Diary' column, from November 1996. Harper provided illustrations for the 'Last word' column by philosopher AC Grayling, which appeared in the Guardian from September 1999 to May 2002.

He was also a contributor to Readers Digest and the Radio Times.

This collection is divided into two sections;

• CLH/1 - Original illustrations which accompanied the 'Last word' column, arranged chronologically
• CLH/2 - Other original illustrations for the Guardian

Open. Records may be viewed in our reading room by appointment only, see our website for more information.

Donated by Clifford Harper 2002-2003

A full catalogue description for this collection can be found on the GNM Archive catalogue.