John Gibson: See Charlene, the lady in Davy's pics Sobering truth

Published on Monday 8 February 2010 10:16

TELL me, Davy, who's the lady? He had her all over the walls at the Ship on the Shore, pretty as a picture. Charlene's 26, an Edinburgh girl with a media background, Davy Macdonald's chosen model for his exhibition of paintings in the Leith restaurant these next three weeks.

And, tell me again, how come you're now painting for a living? "My parents gave me a set of paints for Christmas 25 years ago and from there I sort of graduated to evening classes at Edinburgh Art College.

"I remember that first night. The model disrobed – every stitch – and I could barely look for embarrassment.

"I've now become a painter full-time after working in IT most of my life. At Scottish & Newcastle for four years and Edinburgh City Council for another four.

"I have had a couple of commissions, here at the Ship and another from the supplier of Comte Audion de Dampiere champagne to the restaurant."

The current exhibition is first in Davy's Champagne Club series and Ship owner Murray Georgeson, 30 years in the trade, hopes to accommodate more. Again starring Charlene? She's hanging in the balance.

Davy's background? Muirhouse, Silverknowes Primary and the Royal High. Some day a Vettriano? Who knows? Maybe worth an investment.

Vote Tory. They want to charge legless Hogmanay booze bingers 500 quid for sleeping it off in hospital.

And why not? Treating the paralytic costs the NHS in Scotland 2.5 million on Hogmanay alone. A sobering fact.

The Tories could collar more votes (nobody in their right mind would vote for limping Labour) if they ruled that gormless individuals who get so seriously lost or injured in our mountains that air-sea rescuers need to be called out should foot the bill.

Any hospital treatment, sting them for that, too.

And for absolute recklessness, electronic tags when they are released from the clink.

Draconian? Why should the taxpayer be billed for sheer stupidity? You know scaling Ben Nevis in a cardy and house slippers doesn't make sense.