Christmas drew a new image of "Santa Claus" annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the modern vision of the figure, perhaps based on the English figure of Father Christmas. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s and continues through the present day. Father Christmas, a jolly, stout, bearded man who typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, predates the Santa Claus character. He is first recorded in early 17th century England, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness rather than the bringing of gifts. In Victorian Britain, his image was remade
Thomas Williams (cartoonist) Thomas Williams (cartoonist) Thomas Watson Williams (17 October 1940 – 8 May 2002), was an English cartoonist. Born in Stockton-on-Tees, Tom Williams attended art college in Newcastle in the early 1960s. He became an animator for leading British animation studio Halas & Batchelor shortly after leaving college. In the early 1970s he left the world of cartoon animation & began illustrating in the hugely popular British comics published by Fleetway. Amongst the titles he illustrated were "Shiver and Shake", "Whizzer and Chips", "Cor!!" and "Monster Fun" where he drew one of his most celebrated characters Creature Teacher. Towards the end