“You need to be detached to make great work”
John Byrne
John Byrne
Arguably most widely known
for his multi awarding winner plays and television series the Scottish
writer/painter John Byrne is a figurative artist with an impressive list of
exhibitions to his credit.
It was Byrne’s attendance in
his late teens and early twenties at the Glasgow School of Art that became his ticket out of the notorious slum of Ferguslie Park, his home during his formative years.
Although the streets of his youth have been the driving imperative of both his
writing and painting. As he told the Independent
Newspaper’s Hannah Duguid “My intellect was enriched by the
background I came from. Everyone seemed more alive and all the streets were
alive: morning noon and night…Every bit of information I ever needed came from
there."
Like the subterfuge Byrne exercised to get his first London
exhibition. As the story goes, The Portal Gallery was looking for naïve artists
to which Byrne’s five years at art school was a definite impediment. Byrne
created a work in the style required and attributed to his father who he claimed
was a retired labourer, busker and newspaper
seller who signed himself "Patrick". The gallery was
suitably impressed and request more works for a solo exhibition which Byrne was
happy to supply. When the truth came out, it was all a bit late for Byrne’s
artistic career was off and running.
Apart from the exhibitions Byrne received commissions for album
covers from popular bands and musicians of the day like the Beatles, Donavon
and Gerry Rafferty. He also discovered theatre when commission to produce the
stage settings for Billy Connelly’s The Great
Northern Welly Boot Show.
Intrigued by the medium Byrne turned his
hand to writing producing amongst others his semi-autobiographical trilogy in
four parts The Slab
Boys which he followed up with multi BAFTA winning television series Tutti Frutti about a has been Scottish rock ‘n roll band. This was followed by the folk
music inspired Your Cheatin’
Heart.
A long term affair with the Hollywood actress
Tilda Swinton that ended with vigorously denied rumors
of a ménage à trois ensured Byrne’s name remained in the headlines.
But throughout it all Byrne continued to work in his studio.
Although his style expanded
from the naïve as he gained a reputation as skilled portraitist painting
friends like the Scottish comedian Billy Connelly as well as numerous self-portraits.
With work that often has illustrative overtones Byrne also produces works that tap
into his story telling abilities whilst still reflecting his humble beginnings.
Even though he is now in his
70’s Byrne is still in the studio. As he told The
Scotsman in 2014 ““I think I’m painting better than ever and I’m working
harder than ever. I did around 120 paintings last year. They’re not dashed off.
I work a 14-hour day, seven days a week.”
Byrne’s latest exhibition A Matter of Life and Death
is currently on show at London’s Fine
Art Society Gallery
until the 25th of June.
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