Art For Arts Sake Special – David Sutherland OBE: Another Great Of Comics Gone

Another great lost to comics sadly as David Sutherland, one of the greatest Beano artists, passed away on 19th January 2023 at the age of 89.

 

Described as the “single most important illustrator in Beano history” by The Beano’s John Anderson, David Sutherland’s body of work was huge, responsible for so many of the classic British humour comics from the last 60 years, including an unparalleled run on the Beano’s Bash Street Kids from 1962-2023 – where his last work on the strip was completed at the end of 2022 and was published in January 2023.

On announcing his death via an official statement from Beano, they thanked Sutherland for “so many lols, laughs, giggles and guffaws over the years.”

“No one will ever repeat what David achieved over 60 years. He was one of a kind, a genuine legend. It is the end of an era. Given that David started working in 1959 and had been drawing The Bash Street Kids since 1962, he is the single most important illustrator in Beano history.” – John Anderson (Beano Editor) on David Sutherland

After starting out as an advertising art director, Sutherland’s Beano career began after entering a contest run by DC Thompson, The Beano’s Dundee-based publisher – he came third – but went on to become their finest and most important artist.

Taking over on Bash Street Kids in 1962 from artist Leo Baxendale, he’s been the strip’s main artist ever since then, producing over 2000 BSK strips over his long and illustrious career.

His work also included replacing another great, Dudley D. Watkins, on Biffo the Bear after Watkins’ death in 1969, continuing to draw Biffo all the way through the ’70s. His long association with Beano’s main characters continued with work on Dennis The Menace, the Gnasher solo strips Gnasher’s Tale and Gnasher & Gnipper, as well as the adventures of Rasher, Dennis’ pet pig.

Over the years, his beautiful and always funny, wonderfully detailed, and full of fun artwork appeared in the Beano on Bash Street Kids, Biffo the Bear, Billy The Cat, Dennis The Menace, Gnasher’s Tale, Gnasher & Gnipper, Rasher, General Jumbo, The Germs, and more.

His death came shortly after his much-deserved appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to illustration.

 

There have been so many tributes to Sutherland following his death, but here’s on that I found so wonderful, from Bash Street Kids writer Andy Fanton…

 

Now, my own little tribute to the man whose Bash Street Kids used to delight me every week (and still did right to the end)…

David Sutherland OBE

4th March 1933 – 19th January 2023