The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Defiant Perth street artist plans another five famous portraits.
PORTRAITS: Artist thinks line of portraits would look ‘fantastic’
A defiant street artist who caused a stir in Perth with huge portraits of dead rock stars says he wants to install more famous faces in the city centre. Ian Cuthbert Imrie has been ordered to remove his 10ft paintings of John Lennon, Michael Jackson and David Bowie. The art was attached to a brick wall on Mill Street without formal consent from the building’s owner. Earlier this month, The Courier revealed Culture Perth and Kinross wants to use the wall for an ambitious art project. Artists have been invited to submit designs for a £30,000 mural which could attract “international attention”. Mr Imrie, who was given until the weekend to remove his artwork, said he instead wants to install five more
I estimate it would only take about £15,000 to complete, rather than £30,000
portraits on the same stretch of wall. The 80-year-old is in talks with the local authority about his idea. Mr Imrie said: “The response to these paintings from the general public and on social media has been overwhelmingly positive, and I think that having a line of portraits would look fantastic. “It would also save people a bit of money. I estimate it would only take about £15,000 to complete, rather than £30,000.” All submissions will be judged by an expert panel and interviews with artists will be carried out in October. If all goes to plan, the work could be in place by the end of March next year. A council spokeswoman said: “We met Mr Imrie last week to discuss public art in Perth city centre and his work in that context. “We have advised that it remains at his discretion to apply retrospectively for planning consent as well as gaining permission from those with an interest in the property, as the artwork could be removed either by the owners/tenant or ourselves given the lack of permissions in place.”