Ninarrr-ninarrr Nina

© Peter Gander

Not all ToonTraits are complex portraits. This one, for Nina, a work colleague, centred around her nickname and is done in a clean, simple style.

Scuba diver Ruth

Scuba diver Ruth © Peter Gander

A watercolour original for Ruth’s 40th birthday. She is a keen scuba and literature fan, shown enjoying the best of both worlds! Pen and watercolour on 300gsm Langton Grain Fin paper.

Ian as ‘Chuckie’ from The Rugrats

Ian as Chuckie

Cartoon portraits have come in many forms over the years and this one was for my old boss who some said looked very much like Chuckie from The Rugrats. He is not only short in stature but sports thick glasses and has reddish hair, so the pickings were rich! The portrait sums up the concerns of many men reaching forty I feel - thinning/greying hair, being out of touch with the young, fancying younger women, that kind of thing. I'm glad I'm not drawing my own 50th birthday portrait...