Ralph Steadman

Ralph Steadman, born 1936, is a British caricaturist and illustrator. He is perhaps best known for his affiliation and friendship with the late writer Hunter S. Thompson, whom he created illustrations for, most notably for the icon 1970 article, 'The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved', which launched the Gonzo writing style. His social and political illustrations are witty, sharp and draw inspiration from popular culture, the everyday human experience and broader power structures and notions of government. More recently, he has illustrated books of endangered birds and species; Extinct Boids (2012), Nextinction (2015) and Critical Critters (2017).

He continues to work to this day and currently produces illustrations for The Independent, The New York Observer and The New Statesman.