The family of a renowned Fife artist, who worked with many of the music world’s biggest stars, have donated two of his paintings to Kirkcaldy Galleries.
The portraits by the late Kirkcaldy-based artist and photographer Ian Wilkie depict the former Glenrothes town artist Malcolm Robertson as well as Bruce and Jamie Watson, members of Scottish rock band Big Country.
Mr Wilkie, who died in 2014 aged 60, was born and brought up in Fife and lived in the Kingdom for most of his life.
He studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee in the 1970s, where he qualified in graphic design and photography.
He created hand-painted miniature guitars for many musical clients, including Sting, Tom Petty and Eric Clapton.
Another of his most noted pieces was a scale model of former Beatles guitarist George Harrison’s Mini from the film Magical Mystery Tour. He was asked to produce it for a birthday present by Harrison’s wife Olivia in 1999.
Away from the limelight, Mr Wilkie was also a talented and much respected portrait painter.
Mr Robertson, who was resident town artist in Glenrothes between 1978 and 1990 and created some its most celebrated sculptures including Giant Irises, said: “It’s was a great honour to sit as one of Ian’s subjects and I’m humbled by the results, I love it.
“Away from his well known work for musicians, Ian was also an immensely talented portrait painter and it’s important that we don’t forget that.”
The donations have been made by the artist’s widow Susan Wilkie, following the success of a retrospective of his work, Out of the Shadows and Into the Sun, that was staged at ONFife’s FifeSpace gallery at Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, in 2016.
Gavin Grant, team leader for ONFife’s Collections, said the paintings were a welcome addition to Fife Cultural Trust’s burgeoning art collection.
He added: “I was delighted to accept the paintings from Susan.
“Visitors to Kirkcaldy have already been commenting on the striking image of Malcolm Robertson.
“The other work is currently stored at our Collections Centre in Glenrothes and people can view it by making an appointment with us.”
