I started cartooning seriously as part of my professional work in 1996, when I noticed an over-flowing ashtray in the foyer of the Mahon court house and my drawing depicting it was published in the opinion column of the local paper.

Inspired by this tiny success, I went on to submit more art work to various papers and magazines and to my delight I was published again and again...and again.

I then introduced a character to the cartoons  -  now known very well in Menorca as MERCATROID the horse.

A sensitive and observant animal, Mercatroid has featured in a small book of cartoons published in 1999 by the Diario Menorca, the only daily paper on Menorca at that time.

In 2000 I offered my work to ULTIMA HORA Menorca which began publication in January 2000. This was a step forward because the rate of pay was reasonable and I was published EVERY DAY and not just twice a week.

Being published daily makes for a huge amount of work and research into daily events whether or not they are local, national or international.

The cartoonist of any daily paper becomes an important asset to that paper if he is popular. My drawings are well supported and have a popular and strong local following. People even collect them in scrap books.

As the bulk are published in Spain, I adapted my sense of humor to appeal to the Spanish public, but leaving just the slightest twist of  the English sense of the absurd which seems to please the readers of ULTIMA HORA Menorca.

Since 2000 over ( 5 years ) I have had over 1800 drawings published, some in other papers and magazines. Prior to 2000 he had almost as many published in the Diario Menorca and even some international magazines such as the ARMY FAMILIES JOURNAL which has a circulation of 60,000 copies quarterly worldwide.

I have always been delighted to take on commissions  for cartoon work or to fill a regular spot in any English or Spanish language publication.

Since August 2004 I have been editor of the online publicity and information website about Menorca

www.menorcainfo.net

 which is now one of  Menorcas leading Internet publications and is growing rapidly with the support of local councils and sporting associations. Over 300 businesses are included in the web pages with photographs and maps to give everyone a better idea of facilities on offer in Menorca in more detail than any other Internet site about Menorca..

Take a look by clicking on the webite address. There are almost 2,000 visitors to the site every week.

www.menorcainfo.net is not only concerned with publicity, but also with local opinion for both Spanish and English communities, and accepts e-mails with stories from readers, reports on social injustice and corruption.

Read the editorial, updated last month ( October 31st 2007 ) and see the objectives of the website. There are some recent stories of interest as well as a BLOG..

There is to be a Paypal facility on the site and also on www.menorcainfo.net for purchasing signed colour prints of limited editions of some of my best published cartoons as well as an opportunity to purchase high quality signed prints by my well-known artist father, Frank Cox, who is a watercolourist and has exhibited his delicate work over many years , not only in Menorca, but Madrid, London and Sussex.

He has sold more than 2,000 original paintings over 30 years and are included in private collections such as that of Sir Cameron Mackintosh, all over the world.

I shall be displaying images of the prints available through both websites.

If you are interested, please write to me at davidcox@menorcainfo.net  and I shall be happy to answer any enquiries.

I would also be interested in hearing from anyone who may have paintings of Menorca or who is an artist wishing to display their work on our website. The rates for displaying 6-8 pictures with short text and contact details in English and Spanish are the same as the advertising rates for small businesses found at www.menorcainfo.net/ANUNCIARSEADVERTISE.html   - basically around 30 Euros per year and payable online with photos accepted by e-mail.The set-up fee is 80 Euros + IVA. Publication is at my discretion governed by parameters of social acceptance  -  ie non-offensive material.

Thankyou for spending time on reading this brief editorial and shortly you will be able to view plenty of interesting prints and pictures.

                                      David Cox  -  Cartoonist and Editor

                                      www.menorcainfo.net .