Artist willing to work with council over relocation of giant rock star paintings

Artist Ian Cuthbert Imrie says he is open to the idea of relocating his rock star paintings. The 80-year-old caused controversy earlier this summer when he installed 10ft portraits of John Lennon, Michael Jackson and David Bowie on Mill Street. The owners of the property – which is used by clothing retailer New Look – have demanded Mr Imrie remove the paintings, which were put in place without permission. Perth and Kinross Council also told him he had to take them down by the middle of this month, or submit a planning application. Mr Imrie, who was commissioned by several local businesses to carry out the work, now says he is willing to work with the local authority and look at other locations for the work, to pave way for the new mural. “I suspected there was something in the pipeline, but this is the first I’ve heard of any competition,” he told The Courier. “That wall is enormous. I paced it out myself and it’s about 375 m long. “I don’t know what kind of mural they are going to get to cover that,” he said. “I’m not an unreasonable man. I would be happy to speak to them about moving the paintings somewhere else. It depends where they want to put them, of course. “It’s been suggested to me that they might look good beside city hall.” Mr Imrie, who has paintings of First World War atrocities on the other side of the building, added that he would be keen to get involved in the competition.

Clockwise, from top: Rogue-One with his Charles Rennie Mackintosh mural overlooking the Clutha bar in Glasgow; Billy Connolly in front of John Byrne’s portrait of him in Glasgow’s Osborne Street; and artist Ian Cuthbert Imrie with his painting Imagine,...

Ian Cuthbert Imrie said he is willing to work with the local authority and look at other locations for his work.