13 Fun and Impressive Pieces of Doctor Who Fan Art

Tone Cartoons
Tone Cartoons / Tone Cartoons

Doctor Who is approaching its 50th anniversary this fall, and while fans wait and wonder exactly what surprises the 3D special will hold, the world’s adoration for a regenerating time traveler has never been greater. In honor of the longest running sci-fi series in history, let’s take a look at some of the fantastic creations made by the show’s worldwide legion of fans.

1. Darfield

What happens when you combine one of the world’s most popular comic strips with one of the world’s longest-lasting TV shows? As Tone Cartoons shows us, you get a little bit of magic known as Darfield. With John presumably filling in as the Doctor, Odie as K-9, and perhaps even Nermal taking on the role of one of The Doctor’s adorable companions, it’s easy to see why Darfield and his Cyberman Pooky toy are so darn grumpy all the time. Tone Cartoons features a new Dalek cartoon every day.

2. The Diamond Dalek Jubilee

Can’t get enough Daily Daleks? Then head over to Daleks of the Day, where you can find delightful creations like this one, designed in honor of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee last year.

3. Norman Rockwho

Rockbetter takes classic Norman Rockwell artwork and makes it more applicable to modern life—or at least, modern pop culture. While the site has a few Doctor Who creations, this one, showing David Tennant’s tenth Doctor checking on a baby Adipose, manages to maintain the touching slice-of-life feel Rockwell was so well known for.

4. Doctor Deco

Something about Matt Smith’s eleventh Doctor seems appropriate for an art deco creation like this one; maybe it’s his old-school style or maybe it’s just that Bill Mudron is such a great artist that he could make any of the Doctors look amazing in this setting.

5. Extermifelt!

DeviantArt user GlassCamel’s light-up, needle-felted Dalek might look more cuddly than intimidating—but it’s important to remember that looks can be deceiving.

6. TARQUILT

As if this TARDIS quilt by craftster user gatheredthreads wasn’t impressive enough thanks to the amazing level of detail and wonderful stitching, the beacon at the top of the TARDIS even lights up, fading in and out as though the famed police box were landing over and over.

7. The Girl in the Paper Craft

It’s hard to imagine a more fitting artistic tribute to the “The Girl in the Fireplace” episode than this stunning paper cut-out creation by DeviantArt user CT201. She sold a similar, though less intricate, version of the design as a pop-up card in her Etsy shop and while it’s now sold out, you might be able to convince her to make a new one for you if you have a special event that only The Doctor could properly commemorate.

8. Doctor Who-Who

If the “Who” in the show title ever reminded you of an owl, then you should check out Etsy seller Kelsey Wailes’ shop where she has a variety of the Doctor’s incarnations converted into owl forms, like this one, an adorable take on Peter Davidson’s fifth Doctor.

9. A Box of Police Box

Rose and Number Ten never looked as sweet as they do in this adorable shadow box diorama by Etsy seller WonderlandContraband.

10. Wallace and K-9

Granted, they may not be claymation, but even as drawings by Roger Langridge, The Doctor and K-9 look perfect in the style of Wallace and Gromit and the choice of Tom Baker’s fourth Doctor couldn’t be more appropriate.

11. Cyber Posters

Mohamed F. Haque made three great Doctor Who posters last year, one featuring a Dalek, one with The Silence and this one, with the intimidating face of a Cyberman threatening “You will become like us.”

12. Sonic Scarfdriver

Looking for a bit of Whovian fan art that you could actually use in a practical manner? Then you’d better head over to Etsy seller MyAlterknits’ shop and grab up this great sonic screwdriver scarf while it’s still on sale. Alternatively, she also offers a “Vote Saxon” scarf for fans of the show’s political figures.

13. The Big Bad Wolf

Given how much Rose’s early storyline revolved around the reappearance of the words “bad wolf,” it’s only fitting for DeviantArt user khallion to wonder how Little Red Riding Hood might take that graffiti, even if she was already adapted to the madness that surrounds the lives of a companion of The Doctor. The artist has also imagined the TARDIS sprouting up in a number of other fictional worlds, including as one of the trees in Jack Skellington’s holiday forest. If you thought Jack screwed up Christmas, imagine him trying to fight off the Cybermen, the Weeping Angels, or the Daleks.

So my fellow Whovians, which one is your favorite? Or do you have another favorite piece of Doctor Who fan art that I left off this list? (And if you're in search of Doctor Who fan gift ideas, be sure to check out our gift guide.)

A version of this article was originally published in 2013.