BILLY CONNOLLY
Few comedians have touched people’s hear ts like Billy Connolly. The multitalented actor, presenter, musician and fine ar tist has brought laughter into homes since the 1970s, and his unique sense of humour and take on everyday life is encapsulated in the latest release from his ever-popular Born On A Rainy Day series. Capturing glimpses of Billy’s childhood, dashes of Glaswegian slang and a witty line-up of personal anecdotes, this colour ful body of work is Billy’s boldest release to date. Hand-signed by Billy himself, each of the framed limited edition prints is presented as a fine ar t giclée on an opulent watercolour paper, highlighting his distinctive bold lines and an uncharacteristically vibrant colour palette. “There’s more colour in the collection than before,” reveals Billy, who now lives in Key West, Florida. “I was looking at the drawings and sometimes they were crying out for colour and I didn’t know why. It was a kind of question. So I put it off for ages and then star ted to dribble a little colour in. It ended up different from the way it star ted out – it had a totally different attitude to it.” Amongst the humorous sketches – which depict everything from his intense dislike of exercise to a zebra crossing the road – there are touches of hear tfelt insight and melancholy.
The former welder, who in December 2020 discussed his retirement from stand-up comedy in the ITV documentary Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure , has exper tly walked the tightrope between themes of loneliness and the simple joys of life, including flying a kite. The collection title illustrates Billy’s gift for drawing light from the clouds. It was on a rainy day in Montreal, Canada, that Billy was first inspired to put pen to paper, after taking refuge from the drizzle in an ar t shop. What began as a twinkling curiosity has led to an incredibly successful ar t career, with Billy revealing that the medium has given him a “new lease of life” since his first launch in 2012. This release, the seventh from the sell-out series, marks a new chapter in his uniquely idiosyncratic story. Despite countless accolades, which include a BAFTA award and a knighthood in 2017, Billy still has his own inspirations – including his “hero” Bob Dylan, who influenced his new ‘Tambourine Man’ ar twork. His down-to-ear th approach to life is also evident in his ar tistic technique, with him explaining: “People think I paint or draw things on purpose. I don’t, I just draw. And then as it goes on, it becomes obvious what it’s going to be (to me). That’s when I name it – at the end. So I don’t know quite what it’s about, but I’m enjoying doing it.”
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