Graham Dury
Encyclopedia
Graham Dury is a British
cartoonist
. He is known for his work with adult comic Viz, having contributed to the magazine from its early years. He co-conceived and personally created The Fat Slags
, one of the magazine's most famous strips.
Having previously worked engineering cacti
at the University of Leicester
, Dury was the first cartoonist to be offered a full-time job at Viz by co-creator Chris Donald
in April 1988, when royalties began to make the magazine a profitable business. However, Dury had been contributing to Viz since as early as 1985, often delivering his cartoons by hand to Donald's house. Early creations, Donald noted, tended to have names that rhymed such as Tristam Banks and his Jocular Pranks or Albert Gordon the Traffic Warden. He also noted Dury's fondness of, and impressive ability to draw, cowboy boots.
Dury originally worked with Donald in Donald's small office (formerly his bedroom) at his parents' house in Jesmond
. As the success of the comic book grew he became a member of the so-called Viz editorial cabinet, theoretically headed by Chris Donald, but which also included - for most of its run - Dury, Simon Donald
and Simon Thorp.
Dury currently draws such cartoons as Biffa Bacon
, Spoilt Bastard, Postman Plod
and Roger Mellie
. He took over drawing the latter strip from Chris Donald when he gave up day-to-day duties in 1999.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
. He is known for his work with adult comic Viz, having contributed to the magazine from its early years. He co-conceived and personally created The Fat Slags
The Fat Slags
The Fat Slags is a comic strip appearing in the "alternative" British comic Viz. The characters made their debut in 1989. The eponymous slags are Sandra Burke and Tracey Tunstall, known to other characters as San and Tray. They are depicted as overweight, eating large amounts of food, mainly chips,...
, one of the magazine's most famous strips.
Having previously worked engineering cacti
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
at the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, Dury was the first cartoonist to be offered a full-time job at Viz by co-creator Chris Donald
Chris Donald
Chris Donald is the founder of, and one of the principal contributors to, the British comic magazine Viz...
in April 1988, when royalties began to make the magazine a profitable business. However, Dury had been contributing to Viz since as early as 1985, often delivering his cartoons by hand to Donald's house. Early creations, Donald noted, tended to have names that rhymed such as Tristam Banks and his Jocular Pranks or Albert Gordon the Traffic Warden. He also noted Dury's fondness of, and impressive ability to draw, cowboy boots.
Dury originally worked with Donald in Donald's small office (formerly his bedroom) at his parents' house in Jesmond
Jesmond
Jesmond is a residential suburb and is split into two electoral wards just north of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The population is about 12,000. It is adjacent to, and to the east of, the Town Moor, providing pedestrian and cycle paths to Spital Tongues and the city's two Universities...
. As the success of the comic book grew he became a member of the so-called Viz editorial cabinet, theoretically headed by Chris Donald, but which also included - for most of its run - Dury, Simon Donald
Simon Donald
Simon Donald is a co-founder and was co-editor of the British comic magazine Viz until 2003.He set up the magazine in 1979 with his brother Chris from a bedroom in Newcastle. His most famous creation for the magazine is probably Sid the Sexist....
and Simon Thorp.
Dury currently draws such cartoons as Biffa Bacon
Biffa Bacon
Biffa Bacon is a cartoon character in the British comic magazine Viz.- Overview :Biffa and his family—Mutha and Fatha —hail from the Tyneside region of North East England and speak in the Geordie dialect...
, Spoilt Bastard, Postman Plod
Postman Plod
Postman Plod is the name of a comic strip in the British comic Viz and the name of the main character. It was drawn by Graham Dury, who created many other Viz characters, including The Fat Slags....
and Roger Mellie
Roger Mellie
Roger Mellie is a fictional character featured in Viz magazine. His catchphrase is "Hello, good evening and bollocks!", satirising David Frost's catchphrase "Hello, good evening, and welcome". The character is foul-mouthed, an obnoxious misogynist who manages to maintain a career as a television...
. He took over drawing the latter strip from Chris Donald when he gave up day-to-day duties in 1999.