Oor Wullie, Maw Broon, Lord Snooty and Desperate Dan are cartoon characters that have been loved for generations and all were brought to life thanks to illustrator Dudley D. Watkins, the first-ever recipient of an award in Historic Environment Scotland’s Commemorative Plaque Scheme.
Lancashire-born, Watkins studied at Glasgow School of Art where his talents did not go unnoticed. After a period of time working for Boots in Nottingham, where his tasks included illustrations for their staff magazine, he was recruited by the art department of Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson where his role included illustration for the ‘Big Five’ story papers aimed at young boys - The Hotspur, The Rover, The Skipper, The Wizard, and Adventure. He also taught illustration evening classes at the Dundee College of Art from 1935-1939.
During this period, he began to produce comic strips and in March 1936 he and editor Robert Duncan Low devised two series for The Sunday Post that would become perennial favourites for families across Scotland and beyond. Oor Wullie featured the antics of a spikey-haired and dungaree-sporting boy and his gang of pals in the fictitious town of Auchenshoogle, whilst The Broons focussed on a multi-generational family who live in a tenement at 10 Glebe Street in neighbouring town Auchentogle.
Work for the Dandy (Desperate Dan) and the Beano (Lord Snooty and Jimmy and his Magic Patch) comics followed, along with contributions to new post-war titles The Beezer and Topper in the 1950s.
His creativity remains loved by adults and children alike, be it the strips produced at his drawing board or in the work of current illustrators bringing the characters he invented to life.
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Commemorative plaques
Celebrating people from all walks of life who have contributed to Scotland’s history.
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