Davies, Roland (1910 - 1993)

Roland Oxford Davies studied at the Ipswich School of Art. He worked for a lithographic printing firm designing cinema posters, drew cartoons and illustrations for Motor Cycle and Autocar magazines, and started illustrating for boys' story papers like Chums, Modern Boy and The Champion, specialising in fast-moving motorised transport. 

In 1932 he created the weekly strip Come on Steve, about a cartoon carthorse, in the Sunday Express, which ran until 1941 when it transferred to the Sunday Dispatch, where it continued until 1949. Steve also featured in a series of twelve colour picture books, two annuals, and a series of six animated films. He also drew several strips for the Daily Express "Children's Own" supplement, including "Larry Leopard" (1933-34), "Percy the Policeman", and a weekly sports strip. He also drew a strip called Bessie in the News Chronicle Sunday magazine.