Nick Cardy: artist at war. Nick Cardy and Renee Witterstaetter. 2013.

Renowned commercial illustrator, designer and comic book artist Nick Cardy, now in his nineties, has been drawing all his life. Before his career as one of DC Comics’ top artists, Nick was one of the young Americans shipped overseas to fight in World War II. He proceeded to do what he did best - carry a sketchbook and document his time in the conflict from beginning to end. From his basic training in the US, Cardy was deployed with the 3rd Armored ‘Spearhead’ Division, and fought through Europe (receiving two Purple Hearts on the way), ending up in Paris after V.E. Day. His sketches - in pencil, pen and watercolour - are extraordinarily vivid, and capture not only the humour and camaraderie, but also the horror of war.

Nick Cardy: the artist at war presents the entire contents of Cardy’s wartime sketchbook, alongside his own commentary. It’s a chronicle of one man’s journey, but one that speaks for millions.