Q & A with Jeff Cummins
Jeff Cummins is one of the starring artists featured in ‘Adventures in Time and Space: 60 Years of Doctor Who Art‘ on display at the Museum of Somerset until 5 October 2024.
Jeff has considerable experience in the creative industry as an art director, visualiser, designer, storyboard artist and long time illustrator with a constant passion for the creative challenge. Jeff will attend our next Sci – Fi Saturday on 7 September.
Here’s a quick introduction through some Q & As.
What was the first artwork you made?
When I was ten years old, my Dad allowed me to draw and even paint on our bedroom wall between stripping and re papering the walls. I painted a Dalek! We moved back to my childhood home several years ago, but recently redecorated and unearthed that 60 year old Dalek!
How did you come to creating the artwork for Doctor Who?
I received a call from Art Editor, Dom Rodi, who I’d already work with before, asking if I’d be interested in a series of Doctor Who novel covers! A no-brainer! I jumped at the chance. (I had already painted a one off illustration of Tom Baker as the Doctor, with a slightly wonky Dalek, for ‘TV SCI-FI’ Magazine a few years earlier).
Where do you find inspiration?
With the Target covers, Dom would supply me with a short synopsis, but the inspiration came via the BBC library photos I also had access to. I would be given assorted photos of the particular televised stories. As I had to pay a royalty usage fee per photograph, I had to design the covers on the spot and in my head. (A budget requirement!) So I guess certain photos would trigger the idea and composition there and then!
Which artwork has been the most fun to create whilst working on Doctor Who? – And which the most Challenging?
They were all pretty challenging, if only from the given time scale and my desire to product quality work in that time. Horror at Fang Rock was very satisfying to work on. I needed to keep the content simple, but also achieve the power and mood of the story. (I’m told I succeeded!)
Do you have a favourite Doctor, villain, or episode?
My first Doctor was William Hartnell, and the first episode, Unearthly Child. The Daleks were the first villains to terrify me! When Patrick Troughton arrived, I didn’t really get that he was the same guy, and so I stopped watching. Tom Baker lured me back much later. An even later Doctor I enjoyed was David Tennant, and a favourite episode; ‘Blink’, (A Steven Moffat story).
Why do you find Doctor Who so interesting?
There has never been anything like it on TV when it began. It’s quirky and has endless possibilities!
What was your behind-the sofa moment?
I’m pretty sure it was the arrival of the Daleks. Perhaps the Barbara/plunger cliff-hanger and the following episode(s). I literally experienced the ‘back of the sofa’, when sitting watching it with my Dad. Next thing he’s saying, “What are you doing back there?!” Sure enough, I’m behind the sofa, unaware of how I ended up there, but also realising my eyes had not left the TV screen for one second!
How would you describe Doctor Who to someone who has never seen it?
A must…!
More About Jeff
Here’s a biography by Jeff, written just for us:
In 1964, a ten year old aspiring artist painted a Dalek on his bedroom wall.
In April 1974, following three years at art school in North Wales, the very same aspiring artist headed to London where he landed a job as a graphic designer. But Jeff Cummins was simply biding his time.
He was an Illustrator in waiting, and during this time he began freelancing for Felix Dennis. Initially painting Bruce Lee posters and covers for, Kung Fu Monthly, then commissioned to paint Tom Baker as the ‘Doctor’ and the Million Dollar Man for TV SCI-FI Monthly magazine.
In 1976, he went it alone and by the end of that year had two album covers for Paul McCartney under his belt, had worked on covers for Jon Anderson and Alan White, members of the band Yes, including projects for Rick Wakeman.
Also freelancing with record cover design group Hipgnosis on many of their iconic album cover projects.