In Memoriam: “Q-Bikes” Beano artist Andy Hutton

By John Freeman on February 10, 2015

An introduction to "The Q-Bikes", drawn by Andy Hutton. © DC Thomson

A 1966 introduction to “The Q-Bikes”, drawn by Andy Hutton. © DC Thomson

We’re sorry to report the passing of former Beano artist Andrew Hutton, who died aged 91 on 15th January 2015.

An artist and teacher, Andrew, also known as Andy, was born in Calcutta and lived abroad in his youth with his brother before settling in Dundee in his teens, attending the Morgan Academy. He left school at 14 to work with DC Thomson before joining the RAF to train as a pilot, but eyesight problems led to him serving most of his service years as a radar plotter.

After World War Two, he gained a degree in art and design and lectured at Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art, moving to Canada with his wife, Pamela, shortly after their marriage in 1950 to work on nuclear reactor construction.

When he returned to Dundee in the 1950s he found work with The Beano and worked on the title for 25 years, beginning with the adventure strip “Red Rory of the Eagles” and drawing strips such as “Jack Flash” (on later episodes), “The Vengeance of the One Eye” (1957),”Kilty MacTaggart” (1957), “Tough Duff” (1957), “The Kangaroo Kid” (1959), “Teeko” (1959) and “Jonny Hawke” (1973).

His last work on The Beano appears to be the fondly-remembered “The Q-Bikes“, which began in 1963 and centred on a young group of bike-riding heroes, running until 1971 (briefly changing series name to “The Q-Karts” in 1969). The strip was revived for Buddy in 1981.

He also worked on Commando inhouse. Although not credited as an artist on the title, current editor Calum Laird believes he would have been involved in doing art alterations or re-finishing covers modified from prints of Spanish and Italian artists stock paintings. That work is either unrecorded or credited to “Staff” in the title’s records.

He and his family moved to Glenrothes in 1971 where he worked as an art teacher at Glenrothes High School, a post he held until he retired.

• The Courier: Obituary

• The Beano – “Red Rory of the Eagles” page

• The Beano – ” Jack Flash” page

• Read an episode of “Johnny Hawke” on The Beano web site

• The Beano – “The Q-Bikes” page (includes an early adventure with the team)

• Lew Stringer pays tribute to Andrew with a guide to “The Q-Bikes”

• International Heroes: “The Q-Bikes“

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.