The SSI, which was co-founded in 1977 by Denis Gifford,[1] met monthly in London,[2] published a newsletter, and distributed annual awards for achievement in the field.
SSI members included Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, Kevin O'Neill, Paul Neary,[3] Jim Baikie, Arthur Ranson,[4] Tony Weare,[5] Keith Watson, Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, Alan Grant, Bryan Talbot, David Lloyd, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, Mark Buckingham,[6] Nicholas Vince, and John Maybury.
[7] In November 1980, the SSI hosted a conference which resulted in the publication of Strips '80, an introduction to the Society and a directory of its members.
The 1981 Society of Strip Illustration Awards were distributed on Saturday, October 31, at Comicon '81, held at the Regent Centre Hotel, London.
[9] In October 1982, the SSI sponsored a "Teach-In and Work-In" at the Westminster Comic Mart, with a number of creators from 2000 AD and Warrior talking about and presenting their work.