Award-winning jigsaw artist Mike Jupp has declared he has "no regrets" about ending his relationship with Gibsons Games after a dispute over changes to his artwork.
Speaking to GB News, the 77-year-old cartoonist said: "I'm English and I'm very proud of my country. I don't care what anyone does. I don't want to join their club."
Jupp questioned the company's decision-making, describing it as "professional suicide" that upset loyal customers who appreciated his distinctive humour.
"I don't understand a professional suicide that this company appeared to do by upsetting all the regulars that loved my humour," he told the broadcaster.
The artist was told to make several changes, including removing the St George's Flag
GB NEWS / GIBSONS
The artist had worked with the 100-year-old family business before the relationship soured over requested changes to his puzzle designs.
The dispute centres around Jupp's 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle titled "I Love Spring", which depicts a chaotic village life scene including a parade, village fete and various humorous elements.
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Jupp alleges that Gibsons Games asked him to remove the St George's flag from the puzzle as part of what he describes as a "diversity and inclusion drive".
"I was asked to change a whole bunch of things, to this day I don't know why," Jupp told GB News.
The artist claims the changes were requested despite the puzzle selling "very, very well".
"All of a sudden, the skids hit. I was told to remove a whole host of things and God knows why," he said.
Jupp severed ties to the company
GB NEWS / GIBSONS
Jupp expressed frustration at the requested alterations, adding: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
The artist revealed he spent considerable time revising the artwork without compensation.
"I revisited the picture and it took me over three months to make it 'correct', I never got paid," Jupp told GB News.
While he initially agreed to make the requested changes, Jupp eventually decided to end his professional relationship with Gibsons Games.
He said he felt "disrespected" by the demands placed on his creative work.
"Telling a cartoonist how to depict humour is as disrespectful as it is infuriating," Jupp told the Sun.
The 77-year-old added: "This is a reflection of a tiny minority of society that has a problem."
Jupp was particularly direct when asked if he regretted telling the company to "shove it", responding: "Not at all."
Martin Daubney was staggered by Jupp's tale
GB NEWS
According to the Daily Mail, Gibsons Games requested several specific elements be removed from Jupp's "I Love Spring" puzzle.
Beyond the St George's flag, the company allegedly asked for the removal of "a busty woman in a bath tub" and "a bull drooling over a cow in lingerie".
The firm also requested the removal of a group of Morris dancers, which Jupp claims they had mistakenly identified as Northern Ireland's Orange Order.
The puzzle itself depicts a lively village scene featuring a parade, a village fete, and numerous characters including a man fixing a roof and various animals.
Despite the commercial success of his designs, Jupp felt the requested changes undermined his artistic vision.
Gibsons Games, a 100-year-old family business, has been approached for comment regarding the dispute.
