Artist David Sutherland OBE has died at the age of 89. In his long career he was responsible for some of Beano’s best loved characters particularly the Bash Street Kids. He was made an OBE in the the New Year’s Honours list for his services to illustration. The feature on the Beano website has a good overview of his career and mentions that his favourite character to draw was Plug.
His friends and colleagues at Beano lead the tributes: see Thanks for all the Lols, David! on the Beano website. John Anderson, Beano editor, said David Sutherland’s contribution to the comic and British comic history will never be matched.
“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.”
See also:
Wife’s tribute to David Sutherland OBE after death of legendary Beano artist from Broughty Ferry by Chris Ferguson in The Courier 19 January 2023
Beano’s Bash Street Kids artist David Sutherland dies BBC website 19 January 2023
David Sutherland, Beano cartoonist, dies aged 89 The Guardian 19 January 2023
