Harry Venning has been a professional cartoonist for thirty years,during which time he has provided cartoons for several UK publications (The Guardian and Radio Times) as well as countless more obscure titles( British Journal of Wound Care). He was awarded UK Strip Cartoonist of the Year for his Guardian strip Clare in the Community, which he adapted into a Radio 4 sitcom. 
In the Art of the Cartoonist, Harry will be tracing the history of his profession with examples from early practitioners like Cruikshank and Hogarth, to more contemporary artists such as Giles and Schulz, bringing events right up to date with cartoons produced fresh on the page that day! Yes Harry will be drawing live. Prepare to hear some tricks of the trade, learn where to put eyebrows for maximum effect and discover exactly what the Eskimo brothers said in the Funniest Joke Ever! ( possibly).

In this talk which follows on from 'Downton to Gatsby', Andrew shows how the Great Depression and the Second World War had such an extraordinary impact on fashion and jewellery design with the rise of cinema and Hollywood. From the likes of Marlene Dietrich to Grace Kelly, he guides you through the various screen goddesses, how they were portrayed and what they gave to such dazzling effect. He also shows that with the development of advertising, labour saving devices and leisure time, people had more opportunities to enjoy themselves and spend on the finer things in life, as well as how political events of the time influenced design and what was worn.

Titan's Venus of Urbino is just one of a number of Renaissance masterpieces that celebrate the beauty of the female form. But who were the women who modelled for such a painting? In an age where the Church demanded celibacy but turned a blind eye to chastity, and where rich high class men married late to virginal women they were not expected to be faithful to, where did all the male desire go? The answer, in cities like Rome and Venice, was the birth of courtesan culture: women as cultured, clever and fashionable as they were lovely. This lecture names names and tells stories, with wonderful images to match.

If you think of St Pancras International or New York Grand Central Terminus you imagine long romantic journeys. You know they are special places promising excitement and adventure. But there are dozens of other glorious stations in the UK and overseas. We will take a journey around some of the most evocative and splendid stations in the world. We will look not only at the magnificence of the architecture and brilliant engineering but will also discover numerous artworks within the stations and examine many depictions of stations in art- like Claude Monet's  Gare St Lazard or William Powell Frith's Paddington.It may sound a bit anoraky, but it's definitely not.

Mr Punch-the most puppet character of all time. His comical irreverence gave ' Punch' magazine its title. His anarchic vitality has inspired opera, ballet and punk rock and his enduring popularity has seen his likeness on goods ranging from Victorian silverware to computer video games. Appearing in England in1662, Punch is descended from the Italian Clown Pulcinella of the 15th century Commedia Del'Arte tradition. Even today This Lord of Misrule uses his slapstick to dispense with oppressive authority,be it politicians, political Correctness or the devil, while proclaiming his notorious refrain;' That's the way to do it!'

Not exclusively about the famous film genre but a revealing and often moving look at the lives of two much loved actors, Carry On star Peter Butterworth, and his wife, Britain's first female TV impressionist Janet Brown, best known for her impression of Mrs Thatcher.