16 Facts About James Simpkins

James Nathaniel Simpkins was a Winnipeg-born cartoonist and artist.

James Simpkins was one of the original artists at the National Film Board of Canada where he worked for many years before launching a successful freelancing career.

James Simpkins' father, Arthur, was a proofreader for a Winnipeg newspaper and his mother, Mary, looked after the family which included James and his two older brothers.

James Simpkins attended Luxton public school and began by drawing in his school books.

James Simpkins attended the Winnipeg School of Art and studied under Group of Seven artist LeMoine FitzGerald.

James Simpkins was drafted into the army in World War II, but was still able to continue to make use of his artistic skills.

James Simpkins was with the Signal Corps security and intelligence group producing training posters and film strips.

James Simpkins recounted that during this period, on a trip to New York for training with the US Signal Corps, he met Charles Addams who had just begun to sell cartoons to The New Yorker.

James Simpkins eventually moved to Toronto where he continued freelancing to the Toronto Star, ad agencies, book illustration, and numerous magazines in Canada and the US.

James Simpkins's clients have included General Motors, The National Enquirer and Jasper the Bear has been used by the Boy Scouts of Canada and Jasper National Park.

James Simpkins had five collections of his cartoons published in book form.

James Simpkins provided the illustrations for other writers' books, most frequently for Canadian humourist Eric Nicol.

James Simpkins' anthropomorphic Jasper was an urbane, friendly bear with a wife and two cubs.

James Simpkins was married to Ethel Mary Thom who died in 2001.

James Simpkins died on February 1,2004, at the age of 93, in Dundas, Ontario.

Canadian cartoonists have argued that James Simpkins has failed to fully get the recognition he deserves.