Leslie Otway

Leslie Otway was educated at Camberwell School of Art and was active before the Second World War as an illustrator, working for Strand Studio, 88 Farringdon Street, London E.C.4 who also represented Jack Greenall and others. His work dates back to at least as early as 1924 when he was regularly producing illustrations for The Detective Magazine. He later drew for a number of annuals (e.g. Every Girl's Story Book, Uncle Mac's Children's Hour Story Book) published by Collins.

Otway became a prolific contributor to girls' romance comics in the early 1950s. He was an early contributor to Love Story Library (1952-58) and many other pocket libraries, including Schoolgirls Picture Library (1958-61), Confessions All Picture Library (1960), School Friend Picture Library (1962-63) and Princess Picture Library (1965-66). He also produced illustrations for School Friend (1959-60) at which time he was represented by the London Art Agency. As well as strips and illustrations, Otway was also a regular cover artist for some of these titles.

Otway also drew comic strips for the weeklies, including 'Girl of the Timberlost' and others for Princess (1962-63, 1966), 'Alona--The Wild One' for Princess Tina (1967-70) and various strips for June (1962-72).

I believe Otway lived in Stoneleigh, not far from Epsom in Surrey. He was at that address from at least 1942 until 1974, at which point I lose track of him. It is possible that he died around this time, after a career that spanned some 50 years.


Illustrated Book
Coppornob: Second Mate by Lawrence R. Bourne; illus. Miguel Mackinlay & Leslie Otway. London, Oxford University Press / Humphrey Milford, 1929.
Three's a Crowd by Michael Drin. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1950.
Full Steam Ahead! by Eric Leyland. Leicester, Brockhampton Press, 1951.