A SATIRICAL cartoonist has died aged 71.

Martin Honeysett was a leading illustrator whose career spanned four decades.

Living in Hastings for more than 25 years, Mr Honeysett worked for magazines and newspapers including, among others, Punch, New Statesman, Private Eye, The Oldie, The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer.

After initial rejections, Mr Honeysett sold his first cartoon to the Daily Mirror in 1969 and by 1972 his work was in such demand he was able to give up his day job as a London bus driver.

As well as newspaper and magazine work, he illustrated several books for adults and children, including Sue Townsend’s The Queen And I, and a series of poetry books by the humorist Ivor Cutler.

In addition, he published several collections of his own cartoons.

Mr Honeysett won awards at cartoon festivals in Europe and Japan, and his cartoons and paintings appeared in exhibitions at public galleries.

A statement from his family said he “provided instantly recognisable cartoons which seemed to encapsulate all the casual cruelty, greed and stupidity of the modern age”.

He died in Hastings on January 20. His funeral takes place at Hastings Crematorium on Friday, February 13, at 2.45pm.

The family has requested donations to the Seaview Project, through Arthur Towner Funeral Directors.