Artist brings Alf back to life

Many people believe Alf Tupper has retired, but not so. Athletics
Weekly can reveal that the Tough of the Track has recently escaped from
the pages of boys' adventure comics to run riot on canvas.
Britain's foremost comic publisher, Dundee-based DC Thomson, has given
artist John Reynolds permission to reproduce this icon of British
childhood on huge canvases up to four feet wide. The company has never
before given permission for its creations to be reproduced as art in
this way.

Reynolds says: "I've always loved Alf and I'm really happy to give him
new life as art. He was a hero of mine as a child and I styled myself
as him in the middle distance and cross country running I did as at
school.

"He's a very appealing character: he's got integrity, guts, an
unorthodox running style and a terrific haircut. And he's always
battling against bullies, cheats and snobs. What more could you want?
"Characters such as Alf occupy a place in the British public's heart.
But people have never before had an opportunity to hang a canvas print
of him in their living room or office.

"People are familiar with the images of US comics hanging on the walls
of galleries, thanks to the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, and it's time
the British comic style was appreciated too.

"Many of these artists are very accomplished and they belong to a
particularly British tradition that seems to have been overlooked."
The first editions are of a trio of runners: Alf Tupper from the
Victor, The Beano's Billy Whizz and Wilson of the Wizard. There are
plans for other Beano and Dandy favourites and stalwarts from DC
Thomson's British boys' and girls' adventure comics.

THE HENDON AND FINCHLEY PRESS - December 13, 2003

Some of Britain's favourite comic characters have escaped from the page
and on to canvas. North London artist, John Reynolds, has reproduced
some of the icons of British childhood on huge canvases up to 4ft wide.
The characters cross the generations and include such icons as Alf
Tupper from the Victor, Wilson of the Wizard and Billy Whizz from The
Beano.

"I've always loved these characters and I'm really happy to give them
new life as art," said John. "These characters occupy a place in the
British public's heart. But people have never before had an opportunity
to hang a canvas print of Billy Whizz on the wall of their living room
or office."

John approached Britain's foremost comic publisher, Dundee-based DC
Thomson, which granted John permission to reproduce its work. The
company has never before given permission for its creations to be
reproduced as art in this way and you can see the results at an
exhibition at 144 Ballards Lane, Finchley, from noon to 6pm on
Saturday.

"People are familiar with the images of US comics hanging on thew walls
of galleries, thanks to the likes of Roy Lichtenstein," John said.
"It's time the British comic style was appreciated too. Many of these
artists are very accomplished and they belong to a particularly British
tradition that seems to have been overlooked."