Now Billy says he’s standing down from stand-up
Comedy legend Connolly: I’ve had my fill of touring
HE has performed on stage in modest venues as well as some of the grandest in the world – establishing himself as one of the funniest comics of his generation along the way.
But yesterday Sir Billy Connolly appeared to draw a line under his time as a touring stand-up comedian, admitting that art is now his life.
Unveiling a new collection of his drawings in his home city of Glasgow, the Big Yin revealed he had ‘had his fill’ of touring. Sir Billy, 75, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, said of his life in the United States: ‘I get up in the morning and feed the fish.
‘I catch them in the afternoon, then I draw and I have this idyllic life.
‘I don’t miss touring for a minute. I’ve had my fill of it, I’ve done the big and I’ve done the wee and been there and I’ve done it – I’m very proud of that.’
When asked about his health and his Parkinson’s disease – which he was diagnosed with five years ago – he said: ‘I’m OK, I’m having a kind of shoogly day today, the nerves and stuff, I’m kind of
‘I draw and have this idyllic life’
shaking a bit. It varies from day-to-day but otherwise I’m perfectly OK.’
Last month Sir Billy said he said he was willing to be ‘guinea pig’ for research into the illness and that he had been in touch with scientists at Harvard University in Massachusetts, whose stem cell institute is a leader in research into the disease.
The comic, actor and musician, who now lives in Florida, explained that he lives a mainly ‘anonymous life’.
However, when he returns to his homeland, he enjoys the reaction from fans.
Sir Billy explained: ‘It has gone beyond fame into a nicer realm where people treat me as if I’m related to them; like I’m their cousin or something.’
His new collection, called Born on a Rainy Day, a reference to the weather on the day he became inspired to take up drawing, is the third instalment in a series of artworks and features 25 new sketches.
Bosses at Castle Fine Art galleries said they expect demand for the sketches to be ‘incredible’, describing the art as ‘similar to that of the Surrealist automatism movement, whereby the artist allows the hand to move randomly across the paper or canvas, without an intent to create anything specifically’.
Explaining how he began sketching, Sir Billy told BBC Scotland that he sought the opinion of his wife, Pamela Stephenson, 68, when he started out.
He said: ‘I had never drawn in my life. I was in Montreal about ten years ago doing stand-up.
‘It was a miserable day and I went into an art shop. I bought a sketch book and some felt-tip pens – I thought it would stop me watching the telly.
‘When I went home I said to Pamela, “Look I know they’re crap, but tell me if you think they’re getting better?” and she said, “Yeah they’re definitely getting better!”.’
Explaining why some of his sketches don’t feature faces, Sir Billy added: ‘I’ve drawn a lot of people with bags over their heads because I couldn’t draw faces.’
Castle Fine Art gallery will be showing Sir Billy’s work from today until November 30.
Gallery manager Nicola Duffy said: ‘Billy Connolly is a true national treasure and we couldn’t feel more privileged to exhibit his work here in Glasgow.
‘Billy’s artwork has a unique, humorous charm which has always been hugely popular with his fans, and we can’t wait to welcome them back to the gallery to view the latest collection.’
The former shipyard welder’s work on show include sketches of a faceless man in a kilt, an angler bandaged like a mummy and a scantilyclad figure tied to a chair.
Originals of the drawings are for sale at between £1,950 and £4,950.