Banned artist to rebel with more street art
Ian Cuthbert Imrie told to remove Mill Street murals
A popular Perthshire artist has said he will install another art mural in Perth city centre, despite being told to remove his previous portraits.
Ian Cuthbert Imrie (80) from Bridge of Earn is the man behind a number of murals that have popped up in the vennels between Mill Street and High Street, including First World War paintings, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and most recently, Michael Jackson.
However, he has been told by Perth and Kinross Council he has to take the murals down, as the artist did not apply for planning permission and they are within a conservation area the local authority is currently trying to redevelop.
But despite the threats, he says he is getting ready to install another portrait on the vennel tomorrow morning – this time of David Bowie.
Ian says he will install a portrait of David Bowie next to these works of John Lennon and Michael Jackson
Ian said: “I wanted to raise the “I started with the First World bar of street art in the city. As art War portraits in Marks and is subjective, people may not like Spencer’s car park and they have John Lennon or Michael Jackson, been well received by residents. but they are icons. “I then went on to do the portrait
“I will be putting up David of Jimi Hendrix on Giraffe cafe as Bowie on Wednesday morning. it was 50 years to the day since I It is quite striking. met him.
“But when I put up John Lennon I got correspondence from the council to say you can’t do that.
“I spoke to the manager of Next and he said it is okay to go ahead with the portraits. All over the world from my research you only need permission from the owners.”
The artist said the council has shown a negative attitude towards street art and culture during the dispute.
He continued: “I was threatened by the council to take them down, but what bothered me more than anything was the negative attitude of the council.
“Other councils, like in Glasgow, pay to have artworks around the city. These portraits in particular have been sponsored by 10 highprofile local businesses who wanted to do something exciting and it raises money for Giraffe.
“I asked to get a small exhibition in Perth Museum and Art Gallery and got no response so I thought I’ll do them outside on the wall. The public response has been phenomenal.