5 July 2010

University celebrates much-loved cartoonist

The latest exhibition in the Tower Foyer Gallery at the University of Dundee celebrates the work of long-serving DC Thomson cartoonist Willie Ritchie, who sadly died earlier this year.

Following on from the comics conference held as part of the Dundee Literary Festival at the University, the exhibition features original artwork and other memorabilia on loan from DC Thomson & Co Ltd and the artist’s family.

Born in Glasgow in 1931, Ritchie studied at Glasgow School of Art. After serving in the Korean War during his National Service, Ritchie joined the staff of DC Thomson. Initially working mainly for the Weekly News, he began creating comic strips for the Beano in 1955, and would go on to work for many other titles including the Beezer, Bunty, Sparky, Bimbo and Twinkle. His clean, simple style never dated, and long after his official retirement he was still much in demand.

The exhibition features some of the characters for which Willie is best remembered, including the long-running Baby Crockett from the Beezer and Toots from Bunty.

The exhibition is on show Monday-Saturday until 21 August. Visit www.dundee.ac.uk/museum for further information.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
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