A Fife artist has been invited to paint two of London’s most infamous figures.
Kirsten Mirrey, from Ashwell of Radernie near Cupar, has been invited by an East London organisation, Cockney Pride, to create new work featuring notorious gangsters, the Kray twins.
The 19-year-old was approached after her work was discovered by the group on Facebook, with her pieces set to tie-in with the launch of a new film.
Kirsten’s artwork will be exhibited and then auctioned, with the proceeds going to charity Ley Community, which helps people overcome drug and alcohol dependency.
With the film set to go on release next year, the teenager, who is more used to painting animals, says there is no time to waste.
“It’s so surreal. To think I’m only 19 just going about my normal life then out of the blue I get an offer that as an artist you only dream of.
“The offer to exhibit my work in London and also to help a brilliant charity is not only fantastic, but a little frightening. To be honest I’m totally gobsmacked.”
Legend, starring Tom Hardy, will open in cinemas next year and is set to reignite interest in the Krays.
Ronnie and Reggie were London’s most notorious gangsters during the 1950s and ’60s, with their “firm” responsible for countless armed robberies, assaults and even murders.
They achieved celebrity status, and mixed with prominent entertainers and even politicians in their heyday.
A world away from rural Fife, Joe Leslie, founder of Cockney Pride, said he wanted someone from outside London to produce this new artwork.
“I chose the Krays, not on any moral or political grounds, but to use the film as a springboard to not only help a charity raise money and to give an unknown artist a great opportunity to exhibit her work in a high-profile event.
“I also decided to use a young artist who lives as far away as possible to London’s East End, an artist who has not been influenced in any way with the history of the Krays, in fact a clean sheet of canvas.”