This year’s August bank holiday isn’t just about the Edinburgh Book Festival’s graphic novel-focussed programme; it also sees some brilliant artists and writers gather in Oxford for Caption, the UK’s longest running comics festival. Showcasing the work of amateur and professional creators alike, this annual small-press convention has an impressive programme of events, which take place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August.

Saturday 24th sees SelfMadeHeroes Andrzej Klimowski and Danusia Schejbal (The Master and Margarita), Paul Collicutt (The Murder Mile) and Rob Deas (Pride and Prejudice) discuss their work with comics podcaster Alex Fitch. The four creators, known for tackling both science fiction and real-world subjects, will discuss their approaches to both. ‘This brilliantly named ‘Self Made Robots’ panel will take place at 1.30pm.

Rob Deas and Paul Collicutt will also be talking children’s science fiction comics with John Aggs and David O’Connell at noon on Saturday.

Caption takes place at the East Oxford Community Centre, Cowley, Oxford OX4 1DD. The full programme is available here.

This October sees the inaugural Lakes International Comic Arts Festival take place in Kendal, Cumbria. Festival Director Julie Tait has put together the most extraordinary list of guests and programmed events: there’s something for everyone, from superhero creators to literary graphic novelists.

SelfMadeHero will be traveling to the Lake District with no less than six amazing creators, including Glyn Dillon (The Nao of Brown), Rob Davis (Don Quixote), David Hine (The Man Who Laughs) and I. N. J. Culbard (The Shadow Out of Time, Deadbeats). Oscar Zarate will launch his beautiful new graphic novel, The Park, at the festival and ILYA, author of the upcoming Room For Love, will also be there.

As well as signing and sketching throughout the weekend in the wonderfully named Comics Clocktower, they’ll be taking part in an array of events. Oscar Zarate will host a workshop for 8 fledgling artists (Oscar Zarate: A Masterclass, The Brewery Arts Centre, Sat 19 and Sunday 20, 10:00-13:00); I. N. J. Culbard, Rob Davis, David Hine and ILYA will discuss graphic adaptations of classics (Re-imagining the Classics, The Brewery Arts Centre, Sat 19, 12.15-13.15); and Culbard and Hine will also talk horror with Hannah Berry (Rocking With Horror, The Brewery Arts Centre, Sat 19, 20:00-21:15).

And if that’s not enough to keep you entertained, there are live drawing events throughout the weekend, including appearances from Glyn Dillon (Watch Them Draw, The Box, Sat 19, 14.00-15.00) and Oscar Zarate (Watch Them Draw, The Box, Sat 19, 15.45-16.45).

Tickets are now available for all events so book immediately to avoid disappointment.

See you in the Clock Tower!

The graphic novel renaissance in Britain continues apace, and our creators are receiving more attention and acclaim than ever before. This year we’ve already seen Glyn Dillon’s The Nao of Brown pick up the Prix Spécial du Jury at Angoulême and Paul Collicutt’s The Murder Mile win broad praise in the national press.

Autumn 2013 sees the launch of a hilarious gift book, The (True!) History of Art, which ponders the nagging mysteries of art history; the two volumes of Rob Davis’ celebrated adaptation of Don Quixote are collected in a beautifully produced hardback; and Oscar Zarate’s stunning piece of original fiction, The Park, will also be released. November will see the publication of the first volume of Frederik Peeters’ Angoulême award-winning series, Aâma, and a terrific original graphic novel by ILYA, Room For Love.

Check out our new catalogue here.

This Saturday, no less than seven – yes, seven – SelfMadeHero creators will be attending the second East London Comics & Arts Festival (ELCAF) in Bethnal Green’s York Hall. After a hugely successful inaugural event in 2012, ELCAF’s organisers have this year hired a bigger venue; they’ve also programmed a superb series of events and workshops.

Amongst the list of guests are SelfMadeHero’s very own Glyn Dillon (The Nao of Brown), Mark Stafford and David Hine (The Man Who Laughs), Rob Davis (Don Quixote), I. N. J. Culbard (The Shadow Out Of Time) and JAKe (Hellraisers). The Dutch artist of the acclaimed graphic biography of Rembrandt, Typex, will also be in attendance.

As part of the programme of events, SelfMadeHero’s Publisher Emma Hayley will discuss the world of publishing with other industry experts (To Publish or to Self-Publish: That is the Question, Main Stage, 10.45-11.45); Typex will talk about Rembrandt with comics podcaster Alex Fitch (Typex On Rembrandt, Main Stage, 12.30-13.00); and Hellraisers creator JAKe will lead a workshop on how to draw comics (Comics For Adults, Workshop Area, 18.00-19.00).

SelfMadeHero’s creators will be signing all day on our stand (tables 23-25). Drop by to bag yourself some beautiful signed and sketched graphic novels at amazing prices.

York Hall is located at 5 Old Ford Road, E2 9PJ. Closest tube: Bethnal Green. The Festival runs from 10am-7pm. Full details of the events programme can be found here.

And remember: this is East London. Grow a moustache a shrink your jeans to avoid standing out.

SelfMadeHero is delighted to be taking part in this year’s El Día E (Spanish Day) celebrations at the Instituto Cervantes in London on Saturday 22nd June.  Writer and artist Rob Davis will be talking with broadcaster and journalist Alex Fitch about his much lauded adaptation of Don Quixote.  The Man of La Mancha would feel even more heroic knowing that it’s happening in a location named after his creator.

To coincide with the event, an exhibition of original artwork from Rob Davis’s two-volume adaptation will be held in the Institute’s gallery from 18th-28th June.

The talk begins at 4pm. The Instituto Cervantes is located at 102 Eaton Sq., London SW1W 9AN.