JAMES Kemsley, the artist behind the Ginger Meggs comic strip, died yesterday of motor neuron disease at the age of 59.

Ginger Meggs has a legion of loyal readers and is the most syndicated Australian comic strip, appearing in more than 120 newspapers in Australia and around the world.

Kemsley became the fourth artist to draw the comic strip following the death of Lloyd Piper in 1984.

In 1982, Kemsley was recruited to work on the Ginger Meggs movie, released at a time when the comic strip's popularity was flagging.

But under Kemsley, Ginger Meggs has enjoyed unprecedented popularity.

In 1999, Kemsley and Ginger Meggs signed with the US-based Atlantic Syndication for worldwide distribution, and the comic strip is now distributed across 30 countries.

Kemsley leaves behind his wife Helen and three sons.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22864583-2,00.html