SCOTS actor Peter Capaldi has been immortalised in a new comic strip by a Glasgow artist.

Illustrator Neil Slorance, from Glasgow's South Side, teamed up with his writing partner Colin Bell to pitch a strip to the official Doctor Who comic.

And they couldn't believe it when the team which produce the comic book got in touch to say they liked their work.

It is the latest in a long line of achievements for the pair, who were honoured at the Scottish Comic Awards for their own comic, Dungeon Fun.

Neil said the expanding comic scene in Glasgow means there is a massive demand for graphic novel adventures - busting the myth that comics are reserved for "geeks".

The pair are working on their second strip for Titan Comics, which publishes the Doctor Who merchandise.

Neil, 27, said: "Colin's a big fan of Doctor Who, as am I, so we thought just out of the blue we should try something.

"We both made a comic with the David Tennant Doctor and sent it away, never really thinking much about it.

"And we didn't hear anything for about three months or so. Then they got back out of nowhere and asked if we wanted to work with the Peter Capaldi character."

Neil and Colin, 31, who lives in Bearsden, jumped at the chance and they will continue working on the strip for the next five months.

Neil said: "They basically gave us a free rein. We did rough scripts of what we wanted to do with it, then they had to approve them and get them approved by the BBC, and then get back to us.

"Pretty much everything that we put forward was fine. They were totally on board with it.

"The feedback has been good."

The pair decided to make Peter Capaldi's Doctor humorous instead of "a bit grumpy and serious" as he is portrayed in the television series.

Neil added: "I think we did that pretty well. I'd like to think Peter Capaldi would laugh at it.

"We didn't make him look stupid or anything.

"If I ever meet him I'll give him a copy."

The illustrator hopes the gig will lead to more opportunities - or that Titan will consider keeping the pair on permanently.

Neil added: "Either way I'm just totally chuffed to be doing it."

Neil, who works part-time for the veteran's charity Erskine, says the key to becoming a comic artist is nothing to do with being talented at drawing.

Instead he believes it is down to not putting your pencil down.

He said: "I've been drawing since I was three of four - I think everyone starts drawing at that age. But it's really a case of whether or not you stop.

"I didn't really stop, I just kept going, I kept doodling. I just got more into it as I got older."

Neil says he "cant' really draw" but comic stories can be made with "stick men".

He said: "You don't need an amazing technical style to get humour across as long as you have the expressions right.

"You don't need a lot of talent to tell a story or a joke."

Neil hopes the Dungeon Fun and Doctor Who comics are accessible to everyone.

He said: "The thing with comics is they are a medium and not so much a genre - you could do anything with them.

"I'm a big fan of all ages comics that are not limited to any demographic."

The comic scene in Glasgow is "fantastic", according to Neil.

"It's a big melting pot just now," he said.

"Everyone is getting places now. You only have to look at things like Glasgow Comic-Con - it's blown up from out of nowhere.

"You have all these creative people as well coming out of Glasgow who are doing really well. It's a total hub of comic talent."

Neil, who has been selling comics and drawing commissions and travelogues for about three years, wants to work full-time as a comic artist.

He said: "That's where I see myself in the next five years.

"That would be amazing."

rachel.loxton@eveningtimes.co.uk