28
Sunday Mail March 6, 2016
email
[email protected]
SCOTS PAINTER ON HOW HIS STUNNING POP ART
web
Sunday Mail March 6, 2016 29
www.sundaymail.co.uk
IS TAKING THE BIG APPLE BY STORM
summiT Campbell
Parents’
childcare
lottery
protest
Campaigning parents
have demanded an end
to the postcode lottery
they claim is hampering Nicola Sturgeon’s
free childcare policy.
The First Minister has
vowed to double the amount
of free childcare available.
But campaign group Fair
Funding for our Kids say
existing childcare needs to
be regulated.
The Scottish Government
currently fund 16 hours a
week of free childcare for
three and four-year-olds and
vulnerable two-year-olds
and plan to increase it to 30
hours by 2020.
Jenny Gorevan, one of the
group’s founders, said: “The
problem is there isn’t a
system at all. Each local
authority is doing it differently. There is no one in control and no consistency.
Tacking more free hours on
to an already failing system
is not going to help.”
Minister for children
Aileen Campbell said: “Last
week’s Care Inspectorate
report shows local ­councils
have worked hard to provide
the 600 hours of annual free
childcare.
“Two weeks ago the First
Minister and I attended the
national early learning and
childcare summit to discuss
plans with local government
lea ders a nd ot her key
partners to expand early
learning and childcare to
1140 hours per year.”
TALK OF THE TOON Paintings combine European models and cartoon characters
Growing up in an Ayrshire town,
Stuart McAlpine Miller spent his
spare time sketching characters
from his favourite comic books
and TV shows.
Double
stabbing
A woman has been
arrested after two
women were stabbed
within 20 minutes of
each other in separate
attacks in Bradford on
Friday morning.
One of the women
had been pushing a
baby in a pram when
she was knifed.
Both victims have
since been discharged
from hospital. Police
said the baby was
unharmed.
Hair-raiding stunt
Police in the US city of
Cincinnati are hunting for
a bald man caught on CCTV
stealing hair restorer from
a string of shops and salons
across the city.
Top NYC gallery hails
painter’s take on
consumer culture
■■Heather Greenaway
Doodling away, he never dreamt his
paintings would one day be on display in
New York’s top art gallery.
Stuart’s colourful pop art creations,
which feature celebrities, sports icons and
cartoon heroes, have become extremely
sought after and sell for up to £200,000.
The 51-yea r- old a r t ist , who ha s
painted Pele’s 75th birthday portrait and
transformed Sir Paul McCartney’s piano
into a psychedelic masterpiece, has a
solo exhibition that launches this week at
the Hoerle-Guggenheim Gallery.
Stuart’s latest collection is a mash-up of
European models and cartoon characters.
He said: “This exhibition is the climax of
everything I have ever done. Twenty years
of ideas have come together in these pieces.
“To be showing them in one of the top
galleries in New York is just incredible. It’s
a dream I never dared to dream when I
started doodling away all those years ago
in the bedroom of my Ayrshire home.
“I hope my paintings reflect my ethos
TOP OF
HIS GAME Portrait to
celebrate
Pele’s 75th
birthday
BLOW ME DOWN Popeye-inspired pieces in latest collection
SITTING PRETTY Stuart McAlpine
Miller’s works sell for up to £200,000
that hard work always pays off. Nothing
in life comes easy but if you strive for it,
the dream when it does come true is even
more magical.”
Looking at Stuart’s outlandish and
intricate paintings, you could be forgiven
for thinking they are photographs or
computer-generated images rather than
canvases painted by hand using oils.
The father of two from Kilwinning is the
former artist in residence at London’s Savoy
Hotel and his work has included everyone
from Lady Gaga and Marilyn Monroe to
Churchill and Elvis.
Stuart, who splits his time between the
UK and Toulouse in France, met Brazilian
supremo Pele last year after he was asked
to paint his portrait.
The former Auchenharvie Academy
pupil, whose multicoloured tribute
formed part of Pele’s Art, Life, Football
exhibition, said: “Like most children
growing up in Scotland, football played
a big part in my sporting education.
“Pele’s ability had an effect on most kids
and we were, from a young age, aware of
his brilliance. If you enjoyed football, then
you wanted to play like Pele.
“To be given the opportunity to meet and
paint him was incredible. There are many
individuals who inspire and impress – but
to continue to do this for as long as Pele
has, is something quite remarkable.”
But Stuart – dad to Callum, 22, and
Laurie, 21 – said the
highlight of his career
was being asked to paint
Sir Paul’s piano for his
2004 European tour.
He said: “I was approached by a gallery
owner who asked if I would be interested
in working with him.
“He hired out the Millennium Dome to
practise for the tour and for weeks I would
be there at the side of the stage painting
his piano, while listening to my own private
concert. It was very surreal.
“Paul ended his tour at Glastonbury and
played the piano I had painted live on stage.
It is an incredible memory to have.”
Stuart, who is married to his manager
Nikki, 39, was a toddler when he first
started to show an interest in art.
He said: “I remember being two years old
and running downstairs on Christmas
morning to discover a big pile of presents
under the tree. I was ecstatic when I ripped
open a parcel and discovered a big box
of paints.
“I ran upstairs to show my mother, who
told me they were not meant for me but my
older brother. I remember being devastated
but it wasn’t long before I got my hands on
them anyway.”
He added: “I knew I wanted to make a
career out of art but growing up in the late
1960s it seemed like an impossible dream.
“Luckily, I got a lot of encouragement
from the teachers at school. I graduated
from Glasgow School of Art in 1990.
“A gentleman who bought one of the
pieces from my graduate show turned
out to be a scout for a London gallery
and I got offered a show straight away. I
Sir Paul
McCartney
played the
piano I had
painted live
on stage at
Glastonbury
sold some paintings and one thing led
to another.
“My mum died suddenly when I was
younger but I know she would be very proud
of what I have achieved.
“I think my whole family are amazed
and delighted I have been able to make
a living out of art.
“I hope people looking at my art will
be transported back to their youth and
the dreams they had. There is a superhero
in all of us and if we work hard, we will
find them.”
Stuart’s exhibition at the Hoerle-Guggenheim
Gallery, New York, runs from March 9 to 30.
ART’S ALL FOLKS