David Sutherland, 1933-2023

David Sutherland, the longest-serving illustrator of the Bash Street Kids, from the iconic British comic The Beano, died on 19 January; he was 89.

Born in Invergordon in the Scottish Highlands, he worked on many of the most famous strips the well-known weekly, including more than 1,000 episodes of Dennis the Menace between 1970 and 1998, but he will be best remembered as the person who brought to life the antics of Beanotown’s most famous delinquents, replacing Leo Baxendale as the Bash Street Kids artist in 1962, and continuing for more than six decades.

Having begun working as a professional artist in 1959, he gained the assignment after entering a competition run by the Beano’s Dundee-based publisher, D.C. Thomson. He came third, but went on to become one of the comics’ most beloved artists. In addition to his long runs on Dennis and the Bash Street Kids, he also drew Biffo the Bear, Korky the Cat, adventure strip Billy the Cat, Danny on a Dolphin, General Jumbo, and the spin-off series for Dennis’ pets, Gnasher and Rasher, among many others.

His contributions to the field were recognized by a place on the New Year’s Honours List in 2022, when he was awarded the Order of the British Empire Medal for services to illustration. After the announcement of the OBE, he remarked:

‘When I entered the D.C. Thomson art competition more than 60 years ago, I couldn’t have guessed where it might lead. I’ve been so lucky to be able to do something I love for a living, and work with so many talented writers whose words have helped bring these characters to life.’

Beano editor John Anderson observed:

‘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.’

Mr Sutherland’s wife, Margaret, said that he had only stopped drawing last month, when he entered his final illness.