Dan Russell (cartoonist)

Dan Russell
Born	Daniel Russell 26 March 1906 Millers Point, New South Wales, Australia
Died	1999 Orange, New South Wales
Occupation	Cartoonist, illustrator
Nationality	Australian
Period	1928–1991

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

Russell was born in Millers Point, New South Wales, 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 labour 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 and was one of the first two woman members of an Australian Upper House of Parliament.

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 1928–29 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. He worked in advertising and commercial art for a few years prior to World War II, until Frank Johnson Publications started producing comics, providing him with the opportunity to break into cartooning.At Frank Johnston he produced a number of comics, such as Terry Lawson (rover scout), Val Blake, Ventriloquist (roving adventurer and detective), Wanda Dare (lady reporter) and Jimmy Dale (a world boxing champion). After the war Russell travelled to the United States, Mexico and Canada to study cartoon techniques. Upon his return to Australia he joined the Allied Authors and Artists publishing group.

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