Dan Russell

Dan Russell (1906–1999) was an Australian cartoonist. Dan's younger brother Jim Russell was also a cartoonist.

Biography Russell was born in Millers Point, Sydney, Australia, the son of William John "Billy" Russell, a foreman plumber with the Sydney City Council, the president of the New South Wales Plumbers' Union, the national secretary of the Australian Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees Union, and unsuccessful Australian Labor Party candidate for the seats of Parkes and Canterbury, who was killed in a workplace accident in 1915. His mother Catherine Elizabeth (née Diggs), remarried in 1926

Russell began his working life as a clerk but was soon studying art at night at the Julian Ashton Art School and at the art school of Wattie Watkins. From 1928 to 1929 he was the secretary of the Australian Black and White Artists' Guild and in 1937 became the treasurer of the reformed Australian Black and White Artists' Club. Upon his return to Australia he joined the Allied Authors and Artists publishing group. where he served as an illustrator, sporting cartoonist and general humour cartoonist, until his retirement in 1970. During this time he created a number of comic strips, including Darky, the Kid from the Snowy River. Russell then returned to Sydney and worked freelance.

Russell was a lifelong member of the Australian Black and White Artists' Club and the president in 1977. He won a Silver Stanley for his contribution to black and white art in 1991 and was made a life member of the ABWAC the same year.

Dan Russell died in Orange, New South Wales in 1999 at the age of 93.