A Glimpse into the Career of a Political Cartoonist

Andy Coughlan is a native of Brighton, England and has lived in Southeast Texas for more than 30 years. He teaches classes as diverse as photojournalism and feature writing, and has also taught English. After beginning his career as a graphic designer, Coughlan moved to newspapers and has been at the University Press for 23 years. He is an award-winning writer, photographer and blogger, and is editor of ISSUE, an award-winning monthly arts magazine. He has been an editorial cartoonist for 26 years, first at the Port Arthur News and for the past 20 years at the Beaumont Enterprise. He is a board member of the Press Club of Southeast Texas. He is also a freelance features writer for various magazines and press releases for numerous organizations.

An accomplished visual artist and illustrator, Coughlan has exhibited widely, including seven solo exhibitions, as well as multiple group shows, including numerous juried awards.

A keen actor and director, Coughlan has written several short plays, including the award-winning “A Single Drop,” and published “Rottens, Chatterboxes and Mayors,” a book of three short Spanish Golden Age scripts translated into English with LU Spanish professor Catalina Castillón. Other playwriting projects include a full-length adaptation of “Don Juan.” Directing credits include Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard,” Noël Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” and “Father Knows Best.” Acting credits include MacDuff and Porter in separate productions of “Macbeth,” Jeffery in, “The Sister’s Rosensweig” (Sallye Award for supporting actor), Froggy in “The Foreigner” and Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady” (best actor award). Coughlan works closely with the non-profit Divergent Theater which seeks to promote original works and also women’s plays. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Coughlan is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Phi Beta Delta International Scholars Society and The Press Club of Southeast Texas.

Lynn Castle will introduce Mr. Coughlan.