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Horace Panter’s Beano Pop Art exhibition heads to York

By John Freeman on May 9, 2018

Dennis and Gnasher, after David Hockney, by Horace Panter

After its debut at the Beano Studios in London last month, Beano-inspired pop art created by The Specials’ bassist Horace Panter is heading to York, and will be on display at the According To McGee gallery in Tower Street from 19th May 2018.

“I’ve been working with According To McGee for a number of years now and I’m delighted to be bringing the Beano’s 80th Birthday Collection of new paintings and prints to exhibit there,” Howard told York’s The Press newspaper. “It will be hot on the heels from its launch at Beano HQ in London, where it has been a palpable hit.”

The Beano‘s iconic gang of comic characters – Denis, Minnie the Minx, Lord Snooty and more – have been propelled into a collection of Pop Art paintings and silkscreen prints, created by Panter and the collection will be sold at a selection of UK galleries.

The pieces, which have already attracted national press attention, took artists and bass player, Panter, six months to create in his Coventry studio, adding the cartoon characters into the settings of some of his favourite Pop Art pieces.

Minnie the Minx appears as a Warhol starlet, Lord Snooty as an iconic character in the style of a Roy Lichtenstein painting and Dennis and Gnasher making mischief in Hockney’s LA swimming pool.

Lord Snooty by Horace Panter

Horace – who graduated in 1975 with a degree in Fine Art from Lanchester Polytechnic, now Coventry University – is best known as the bassist for 2Tone ska legends The Specials, but has been exhibiting his art in the UK since 2008.

His influences are diverse and range from the Pop Art paraphernalia of artists such as Peter Blake, Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana to the depictions of light in paintings by Edward Hopper and David Hockney. His ‘Americana’ series falls into the latter category; his reimagines the ubiquitous signs/diners in American cities as iconographic cultural symbols. Ultimately, he says that these works “are about painting light”.

Greg McGee, owner of the York gallery says Panter is the perfect choice for the new series. “He’s a Pop artist at the top of his game,” he told The Press. “He has a controlled, vibrant style that lends itself to iconic characters.

“His defining role in ska-punk as bassist in The Specials is pertinent too. The Beano has been a punkish disruptive force in British visual culture since before Johnny Rotten was born. I can’t think of a more appropriate artist than Horace Panter to bring the Beano‘s favourite troublemakers to a modern audience.”

• The Beano Goes Pop Art (#BeanoGoesPopArt), According to McGee gallery, 19th May to 9th June 2018, Tower Street (opposite Clifford’s Tower), York. Open Monday to Saturday, 11.00am to 5.00pm, and Sundays, 1.00pm to 4.00pm. Web: accordingtomcgee.com | Beano-branded products are available online at shop.beano.com

• Horace Panter is online at www.horacepanterart.com | Find Horace Panter on Facebook | Follow Horace on Twitter @horacepanterart or Instagram @horacepanterart

• The Press: Horace Panter gives Beano characters 80th anniversary Pop Art makeover at McGee gallery

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.