David Shenton

David Shenton (born May 20, 1949) is a British artist and cartoonist who specializes in queer comics. His work has addressed LGBTQ-related social issues including same-sex marriage, the AIDS crisis, and Section 28. His comic strips have been featured in the collections Strips Aids, No Straight Lines, and AARGH, his strips have been published most prominently in The Guardian and Gay News, and his more recent non-comics work has appeared in Sheringham Museum and the Cartoon Museum.

Early life Shenton was born on 20 May 1949, in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. Shenton went to Ashton-under-Lyne Grammar School from 1960.

Career Shenton has been an illustrator of LGBTQ comics since the 1970s. His work was published in the gay press in general from 1976, and began to appear in the publication Gay News in 1981. This was followed by appearances in Him and Capital Gay. Sina Shamsavari has stated that Shenton was likely the most prominent gay cartoonist in the 1980s, with Kate Charlesworth being his lesbian equivalent. His book Stanley and The Mask of Mystery was published in 1983 by Gay Men's Press. For February 2020, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Norwich City F.C. footballer Justin Fashanu's Goal of the Season against Liverpool, Shenton designed a large banner with Proud Canaries. Fashanu was the first professional footballer to come out as gay. In June 2023, Sheringham Museum unveiled a large bearded puppet wearing a gansey, both designed by Shenton. The gansey featured 22 motifs including a lavender rhino, bisexuality symbol, trans rights unicorn, and Progress Pride flag.

Artistry Shenton's work has addressed LGBTQ-related social issues including same-sex marriage, the AIDS crisis, and Section 28. Hall, Justin. No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics. Fantagraphics Books, 2013. Melia, D. Strip AIDS. Willyprods/Small Time Ink, 1987.

Personal life Shenton has stated that he and his partner registered as partners under Ken Livingstone, then later became civil partners. Later, David and John finally married. John regularly appears in Shenton's work published on Facebook.