William Papas ('Papas')
(1927-2000), Cartoonist and caricaturistArtist of 4 portraits
Grew up in South Africa, and studied at Johannesburg Art School. Moved to England in 1946 and studied at St Martin's School of Art in London. He spent two years travelling round Europe, sketching, before returning to South Africa and working as a staff artist and reporter on the Cape Times. In 1959, Papas moved to England and joined the Guardian. He worked at first as an illustrator and deputy to political cartoonist David Low. In 1961, he began contributing cartoons to the Sunday Times. Papas succeeded Low as political cartoonist on the Guardian in 1963. He left and moved to Greece in 1970, where he remained for thirteen years, after which he settled in Oregon, USA.
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Joyce Forman
13 April 2016, 04:57
I purchased a Papas watercolor in about 1985 on the island of Hydra. Picture was of an older Greek man (maybe fisherman) with a sack slung over his back. The sack was in the shape of a butterfly. I am interested in contacting someone perhaps in his family that might know the history of the picture and who the man portrayed. I have an idea but not sure.
Elena Mannion
16 March 2017, 06:49
Message for Joyce Forman: Papasart is the website managed by Papas's wife, Theresa. You could reach her through the website. I am the Publisher at Pikku Publishing. We are republishing Papas's Greek fable TASSO, a outstanding children's story book, next month. There is still great interest in his work, and you may hear more about Papas in the media this month and next when TASSO is published. All good wishes, Elena Mannion