Dundee exhibition celebrates work of late Beano artist Jim Petrie

An exhibition celebrating the work of the late Beano artist Jim Petrie opened at Dundee University’s Lamb Gallery this week.

Jim, who died last year, was best known for being the man who drew the “world’s wildest tomboy”, Minnie the Minx, in the famous comic for 40 years.

The exhibition, which has been created with the support of Jim’s family and DC Thomson & Co Ltd, who have lent material for display, opened to the public on Wednesday.

Curator Matthew Jarron said: “We’ll be showing many of Jim’s classic Minnie the Minx artworks but also examples of his other comics work for Sparky, the Dandy and others.

“Jim was also a very talented painter who exhibited regularly with Dundee Art Society, and some of his paintings will also be on show, revealing the full range of his artistic talents.”

The son of a weaver and a lorry driver, Mr Petrie was born in Kirriemuir where he attended Webster’s Seminary before enrolling at Dundee College of Art ( now Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) in 1950.

He went on to become an art teacher at Kirkton High School in Dundee before he began submitting work to publishers DC Thomson and had his first Minnie the Minx strip published in June 1961.

Jim became the regular Minnie artist the following year and went on to draw a total of 2,000 weekly strips, turning the character into a national favourite.

The exhibition runs until September 19 and will be open from 9.30am to 8.30pm on weekdays and from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays.

Artist Jim Petrie died last year.