Cartoonist’s book gives Scots icons a hipster makeover

A West Lothian illustrator is paying a unique homage to the coolest Scots from the past and present in his new book.

From author Muriel Spark in a studded choker to scientist James Clerk Maxwell with two full sleeve tattoos, Greg Moodie’s collection of portraits sees prominent Scottish figures reimagined as hipsters.

Ranging in time from Countess of Buchan Isabella MacDuff to politician Margo MacDonald,‘Cool Scots’ features 42 of Moodie’s modern illustrations of politicians, Jacobites, poets and the women history ignored.

Each portrait is accompanied by a brief, anecdotal biography full of quips and“mostly accurate”facts.

With a psychedelic Robert Louis Stevenson emblazoned on the front cover,‘Cool Scots’is a reinvention of the various personalities behind Scottish culture.

The book is being launched at the Torphichen Inn’s Cool Scot Gallery, this Saturday at 7.30pm. There will be live music and everyone is welcome to attend.

Greg, who stays in Torphichen, said of the book:“Two years ago I produced a series of Tam O’Shanter murals at the Torphichen Inn, which included a Robert Burns image.

“I thought I could probably do makeovers for a whole series of cool figures, make them hipsters.

“I accompanied each illustration with a comic retelling of their life stories, full of quips and mostly true facts.

“The response has been great - people have been photographing their favourite illustrations and posting them online. I was slightly concerned because some of the individuals profiled are still alive and I’m notoriously cheeky - but nobody’s threatened to sue yet.

“I’m delighted to be having this launch in Torphichen because it was Mr Kenny from the Torphichen Inn who suggested a Burns portrait in the first place.

“The book is not a definitive cool grouping by any means, but one that Scots can be proud of.”

Greg is the cartoonist at daily newspaper The National and is the author of three collections of cartoons; Greg Moodie versus The Union, Election Dissection and Striptease, as well as Borrowing

Burns, a semi-fictional account of the making of his series ofTam O’Shanter murals. Buy the book at gregmoodie.com.