Artist Stanley Chow threatens legal action over Tories' use of Andy Burnham portrait

The Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow is taking legal advice after the Conservative Party used his portrait of Andy Burnham on promotional water bottles without his consent.

Party staff handed out the bottles to journalists at the Conservative conference in Birmingham over the weekend. They featured Chow’s cartoon of Burnham beneath the slogan "bottler Burnham".

Chow, whose work regularly appears in The New Yorker, said he only discovered his artwork had been used when he turned on the television.

"I was more shocked really," Chow said. "When it appeared up on Sky News they were having a laugh and a joke about it, I thought, 'Hang on, they have done this without telling me!' I am peeved."

The artist has written to the Conservative Party demanding an explanation and an apology, but has not yet received a reply. He described the campaign slogan as "very childish" and suggested those responsible "should grow up".

"Regardless of your political allegiance, what the Tories have done is still copyright infringement," Chow said. "Ultimately, I want to raise awareness that you can't just take someone else's artwork and do what you want with it. I want to show other artists that when this does happen, you can make a stand, especially in this day and age where artists are struggling, because of AI and the cost of living."

Chow’s legal representative, Colin Bell of the law firm Brabners, said the illustration had been edited and used without permission, acknowledgement, or payment.

"This is a clear case of copyright infringement," Bell said. "Stan is entitled to an injunction – or undertakings to cease and desist and take down the infringing works – compensation and a public apology."

Bell added that the firm is advising the illustrator to secure redress and to "make clear that artists’ work, rights and reputations cannot be treated in this way without consent, including as leverage or collateral in political campaigns."

The Conservative Party has been contacted for comment.

It is not the first time Chow has found his political illustrations used without permission. He recently challenged Reform UK after the party used his cartoon in a social media attack advert.

Chow is well known for his minimalist portraits of famous figures, particularly sport and culture icons. His work includes illustrations of former Manchester United players and managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona, and Wayne Rooney, as well as prominent northern figures like the actor Maxine Peake and the poet Lemn Sissay.