Harry Bell
(1947 – )
Harry Bell is a British fan and fanartist, who found fandom in 1965. He became known as one of fandom's top artists, frequently topping the Checkpoint fan poll in the 1970s.
Bell learned of fandom from John Barfoot, a fan who was a co-worker at the Department of Health and Social Security in Newcastle. He joined the BSFA thinking it a requirement. His first fanzine contribution was a cover for the third and final issue of Barfoot's fanzine, Bumblie, which was part of the third PADS mailing in June 1965. His own first fanzine was Grimwab, distributed withe the fifth PADS mailing in early 1966. His first convention was Yarcon, the 1966 Eastercon.
He gafiated after Thirdmancon in 1968, because he couldn't find the kind of old-style fanzine fandom he liked in Britain, but returned in 1970 when he was a founder member with Ian Williams of the North East Fan Group (NEFG). In September meetings moved to The Gannet pub in Sunderland and by Easter 1971 they had become known as Gannetfandom or The Gannets. Bell's first post-gafiation fanzine was The Grimling Bosch in June 1973. He was the hoax fan Brian Temple.
Members of the Gannets ran Tynecon, the 1974 Eastercon, with Bell acting as press officer and in 1976 he chaired the first Silicon. He continued to produce much fan art for Uk and American fanzines, regularly topping the Checkpoint poll for best fan artist. Commenting on his 1976–7 win, Peter Roberts said in Checkpoint #83 (July 1977):
Once more entirely on form, Harry's been active in America as well as the UK where he's produced some great cartoonwork, notably for Maya, True Rat, and Stop Breaking Down. Is there no stopping this kid? Tune in again next year.
After being a fan guest of honour at Seacon '79 he attended Noreascon 2, the 1980 Worldcon, In October 1983 he was a founding member of Frank's APA, contributing Armadillos in the Skirting Board, but gafiated again in the mid-1980s and before Conspiracy '87.
He returned again around 2003 as a contributor to fannish elists, later founding InTheBar in 2004. In 2007 he travelled to Corflu 24 (Corflu Quire) as a beneficiary of the Get Harry! Fan Fund. A collection of his fan art, Bellissimo! The Harry Bell Fan Art Anthology, was published by Rob Jackson as a fund raiser.
He still contributes art to fanzines and occasionally attends Corflu.
Bell worked for the government service from 1963 to 1997. In 2001 he gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Newcastle University.
Links
- Armadillos in the Skirting Board (for Frank's APA)
- Bellissimo! The Harry Bell Fan Art Anthology
- The Grimling Bosch [1973-76]
- Grimwab [1966-68] (for PADS)
- Kamikaze [1978]
- More Beans [1982] (with Ian Williams)
- Out of the Blue [1979-83] (with Kevin Williams)
- Pi in the Sky [1992]
- Snorkel [1980]
- Ten for the Mexicon [1984]
- Tocsin [1977]
- Twonk's Disease [1970s]
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1971–2 – Checkpoint Fan Poll for Best Fan Artist
- 1972–3 – Checkpoint Fan Poll for Best Fan Artist
- 1974–5 – Checkpoint Fan Poll for Best Fan Artist
- 1975–6 – Checkpoint Fan Poll for Best Fan Artist
- 1976–7 – Checkpoint Fan Poll for Best Fan Artist
- 1977 – FAAn Award for Best Fan Artist — Humor
- 1977–8 – Checkpoint Fan Poll for Best Fan Artist
- 1979 – 1979 Best Fan Artist Hugo nominee
- 1979 – Seacon '79 FGoH
- 2007 – Get Harry! Fan Fund
| Person | 1947— |
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