Artist will carry on with ‘pop art’

Painter ‘un-Bowied’ by legal threat and promises new portrait

An artist has been ordered to take down huge portraits of dead rock stars he has installed without permission in Perth city centre. The 10ft high paintings of John Lennon and Michael Jackson were put in place in the Mill Street conservation zone by Ian Cuthbert Imrie. Although they have been a hit with shoppers, Mr Imrie has received a legal warning from the building’s owner, demanding that the paintings are removed and any damage to the wall is fixed. The owner of the property was tipped off about the artwork by Perth and Kinross Council. The local authority has also told Mr Imrie to take down the portraits, or pay to submit a planning application. Mr Imrie said he does not intend to take down the pieces and said he is working on a portrait of David Bowie for the same area.

The feedback I’ve had from people about the paintings has been fantastic. They really love the way they brighten up the area

An artist who has decorated Perth city centre with huge portraits of rock stars has been ordered to tear down his work. Prolific painter Ian Cuthbert Imrie, 80, recently unveiled a 10ft artwork of John Lennon at a building on Mill Street, a conservation area which is being redeveloped by the council. But the painting, which was put up without permission, has fallen foul of council bosses and property owners. Mr Imrie, whose paintings hang in galleries in New York, London and Dallas, was issued a demand from lawyers representing the building’s owner, ordering him to take down the painting and repair any damage to the brickwork. He has also received a similar warning from Perth and Kinross Council, giving him four weeks to take down his works or pay for a planning application. Undeterred, Mr Imrie has taken the wraps off his latest creation – a huge portrait of Michael Jackson. He is also planning a portrait of David Bowie to complete the trilogy. “I was sponsored by local businesses to create artwork for the city centre,” he said. “Part of the reason I wanted to do it was because I was unimpressed by the quality of public art being installed by the council. “The feedback I’ve had from people about the paintings has been fantastic. They really love the way they brighten up the area.” He said he will not apply for planning permission. “The money I’d have to spend on that would cancel out any money we are making for charity,” he said. “What I found sneaky was that when I received the solicitor’s email, I asked them how they found out about the painting. They told me an officer from the council had brought it to their attention.” It is understood the building, used by retailers New Look and Next, is owned by a conglomerate of businesses. The message from solicitors Knight Frank stated: “I act for the owner of the above building. “Several pieces of your art have been pinned on the building without the owner’s prior consent. We would therefore ask that you remove these immediately and remedy any damage caused by pinning these to the building.” The Edinburgh-based firm did not respond to requests for comment. Mr Imrie later received an email from council planners, informing him the “portraits constitute a breach of planning control”. The artist recently donated a huge painting of Jimi Hendrix to the Giraffe Café social enterprise, further along Mill Street. He is also behind a series of paintings in another part of the street, commemorating the First World War.

Painter Ian Cuthbert Imrie, 80, says he will not apply for planning permission as the money it would cost would impact the amount being raised for charity by the paintings.