Sir Billy Connolly has made a rare appearance to open up about how he was inspired by touring with Sir Elton John.
The 82-year-old, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, has unveiled four new limited edition works under his Born On A Rainy Day series, via Castle Fine Art, recalling some of the fondest memories from his life.
One of the pieces, named Saturday Night, shows a piano player in action, with Sir Billy saying the character in his piece ‘does that leg thing which is pure Elton’.
Speaking about opening for the Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting singer in 1976, he added: ‘It was that point of the show where he backheeled the stool and it tumbled off the stage. The roadies all dived so that it didn’t break.
‘I saw Elton lately and he was better than I’ve ever seen him. He’s an amazing performer.’
Sir Billy began drawing in 2007 and has built a name for himself as an artist since his retirement from comedy in 2018.
He has also released Sausage Tree, which reflects on his childhood, Sunburned, which depicts a sunburned Scottish man, and Fly Away Peter, which shows a multicoloured figure surrounded by birds.
The Glasgow-born star admitted: ‘It’s taken me years to call my art beautiful, I would never dream of saying it before for the chance that somebody would say, “it’s crap, you’re no good”, but I’m quite good.
‘I can make people smile and feel happy. It’s great.’
The new pieces are available from Castle Fine Art from 8am today.
Earlier this month, Sir Billy warned fans about scammers impersonating him online, telling them he and his wife Pamela Stephenson had been impersonated using AI.
He said scammers had been ‘impersonating me, often reaching out to fans soliciting direct messaging’, adding there ‘could well be criminal intent’.
He concluded his statement: ‘Please be safe everyone. Love and cuddles, Billy.’
Sir Billy has continued to record TV programmes since his retirement, with his most recent projects including shows such as 2018’s Billy Connolly: Made In Scotland, Billy Connolly’s Great American Trail in 2019, and Billy Connolly Does…, which began airing in 2022.
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