David Sutherland’s family confirmed the sad news of his death (Picture: PA)
David Sutherland, a cartoonist responsible for some of Beano’s most famous illustrations, has died aged 89.
The artist is well known for his drawings for The Bash Street Kids and Dennis The Menace.
He also made this year’s New Year Honours list, and was awarded an OBE for his services to illustration.
Announcing the sad news of Sutherland’s death, Beano wrote on their official Twitter account: ‘Today we have the sad job of telling the world that our dear friend David Sutherland OBE has passed away.
‘David joined Beano in 1959 as a freelance contributor and over the last 63 years has become one of the most important Beano artists in its history.’
In tribute, the page also shared a Biffo the Bear story in which the ‘modest’ artist drew himself as Biffo’s neighbour.
‘We couldn’t think of better tribute to celebrate the life of this incredible man,’ they penned.
‘David viewed himself as a resident of Beanotown, living alongside our characters that he loved and he will live on there forever, and always be in the hearts of Team Beano and the millions of kids who have enjoyed his strips every week.’
Sutherland’s wife, Margaret, said drawing was her husband’s ‘life,’ admitting his passion for his work ‘made us forget the age he was.’
‘He was getting older but we never noticed it.’
The cartoonist was behind some of the most loved comic strips, including Dennis The Menace (Picture: PA)
She added: ‘He just kept going and the editors remained happy with his work.’
Sutherland himself previously admitted he never expected drawing to take him so far in his career, having began his work with DC Thomson in 1959.
After his OBE was announced just last month, the cartoonist said: ‘When I entered the DC 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.’
Sutherland drew The Bash Street Kids weekly for 60 years (Picture: PA)
Bringing characters to life is certainly what he did, starting with The Bash Street Kids in 1962, which he continued to draw every week for 60 years.
He also drew well over 1,000 Dennis The Menace episodes between 1970 and 1998 alone.
Tributes have poured in for Sutherland since his death was shared, with lifelong Beano fans reminiscing on their favourite pieces of his work.
‘It’s truly heartbreaking to hear this, as a fan of the Beano and The Bash Street Kids I think his loss is truly going to be felt. What a legacy though! Thank you David and R.I.P.’, one person tweeted.
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‘That’s saddening, my family has been reading the beano for generations. He will be sorely missed, he was a fantastic illustrator’, wrote another.
Another sweet tribute read: ‘R.I.P David. Thank you for making my childhood a happy and amusing one.’
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He’s been hailed ‘the single most important illustrator in Beano history.’
