Billy Connolly's move away from comedy as he unveils stunning new artwork series
Beloved Scottish comedian Sir Billy Connolly has traded punchlines for paintbrushes, unveiling four new pieces of fine art for sale.
At 80 years old, Connolly, who has been nurturing his artistic side since 2012, revealed his latest creations through the esteemed Castle Fine Art gallery. These works are part of his ongoing 'Born on a Rainy Day' art series and carry a price tag of £1,250 each. However, art enthusiasts can purchase the entire set for £4,500 framed or £3,300 unframed.
The intriguingly titled pieces - Pontius Tries Pilates, One Armed Juggler, Nightmare, and Drunk Donkey - showcase Connolly's unique sense of humour and creativity.
"The Big Yin" shared that he always wanted to give Pontius Pilate a "keep-fit name", an idea that sparked when his wife joined a pilates gym. He said: "I said it would be funny to call it Pontius Pilates, then I thought people would be offended by that, so I fiddled around and I got Pontius Tries Pilates. He's just a guy trying at the gym, trying his best. I don't understand the whole gymnasium culture, but he does and he's good."
Speaking about his One Armed Juggler drawing, the comedian-turned-artist said: "He's an example of the fact that most of the figures in my work are doing things that don't matter." He added: "Just doing the things they do, thinking they'll do you good I've spent my life doing that. You see guys in their 60s out running in the evening and you think: 'Get a chair. Get a chair and a bottle of beer and switch on the telly; who are you kidding?'. But all my guys are doing that, they're trying to be part of it wherever 'it' is."
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His artwork titled 'The Nightmare' draws inspiration from his own nocturnal terrors, which he admits to forgetting upon waking. He confessed: "But I'm famous for shouting in the night and singing and laughing; my daughter has seen me; I've never remembered it." He even recounted directing a play in his sleep, where he would converse with the actors and then morph into them, belting out songs.
Another piece, 'Drunk Donkey', harks back to his early days in Scotland. Sir Billy reminisced about owning two donkeys who had free rein to "wander about the place eating grass". The comedian fondly described the animals as "lovely" and "friendly", likening them to dogs.
He elaborated: "They cling to you, they've got a real tie to human beings. Donkeys are funny animals but it's an endearing kind of funny." He recalled how his donkeys would often escape over the garden wall, trot down to the village, only to be returned by the villagers.
Sir Billy humorously observed: "Donkeys always look drunk and behave drunk. This one's a friendly looking guy and I think he's been drunk a few times because he's got a beer belly on him. And he's got the drunk legs."
The spark to start drawing ignited while Sir Billy was touring Canada. He revealed: "I'd never drawn in my life until this point, but I just started drawing weird islands and carried on drawing." He sought feedback from his wife, who assured him that his drawings were 'definitely' improving.
The artist expressed his astonishment at the public's reception of his work, saying: "And the fact that other people like them and want to live with them in their homes blows me sideways."
He further shared his delight and surprise at the personal connection his art has fostered, stating, "To have somebody who wants a part of your mind in their life I thought my wife had been the only one to fall for that, but it turns out that she's not alone."
For those eager to feast their eyes on The Big Yin's captivating drawings, they can be viewed at www.castlefineart.com.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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