Paintings - Paul McCartney

Having distinguished himself as highly as Sir Paul McCartney has, as a songwriter and performer, it's a brave move for him to share his paintings and art with the world. Though it was Lennon who was art-school trained, it was McCartney who engaged the most with the art-related side of the Beatles and the sleeves of the Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road albums where both based on his sketched ideas. Through myriad influences and many personal contacts with well-known artists (including Andy Warhol, Willem De Kooning and Peter Blake) Sir Paul has gradually evolved his own very personal style. It is largely expressionistic, often abstract, owing more to de Kooning than to the British pop artist and he brings to his painting the same humour, enthusiasm and enjoyment that is present in his music. They both stem from the same deep urge to create which has so far led him to compose classical pieces for full orchestra, to write poetry, direct films, design his own house and write and perform what is generally regarded to be the most successful popular music in history.