Star Treks along to Scots exhibition

20/04/2009

Enterprising young Scottish artist gets
Hollywood seal of approval

Intergalactic seals of approval don’t come much higher-ranking than Starship Enterprise Captain Jean Luc Picard, but one young Scots artist has received the blessing of the noble officer himself.

Actor Patrick Stewart, who played the Star Trek hero, dropped in to Glasgow-based painter Frank To’s current exhibition at Edinburgh’s Leith Gallery last week, while he was in the capital for his acclaimed appearance alongside Sir Ian McKellen in Sam Beckett’s Waiting For Godot at the King's Theatre.

Stewart, who says he has been a fan of To’s work since he saw his degree show, now has five of his paintings in his private collection, which includes a portrait of himself, done during a live sitting.

To, who has exhibited alongside Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Peter Howson, was thrilled when the Hollywood star stopped by to give his support to his current Edinburgh exhibition, which runs until April 25.

Stewart said: “I have several of Frank’s paintings, including a quite powerful and unusual portrait of myself. I like Frank’s work for its thoughtfulness, intensity, use of colour and mature technique."