Death of Scotland’s answer to Andy Warhol

POP artist Gerald Laing died yesterday at his castle home in the Highlands after a battle against cancer, aged 75.

Laing, whose latest work features the late singer Amy Winehouse, was born in Newcastle and spent much of the 1960s working in pop art in New York and was a close friend of artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

His most famous works included images of actresses Brigitte Bardot and Anna Karina. In October, he showcased a series of paintings and drawings of Winehouse in London.

Laing was also a sculptor and created a statue of Sherlock Holmes in Picardy Place, Edinburgh, which is currently in storage to make way for work on the city’s tram project. He also created the Exiles, a statue that recalls the Highland Clearances in Scotland.

The Glass Virgins at Standard Life’s building in Edinburgh, Four Rugby Players at Twickenham Stadium in London and Ten Dragons at London’s Bank Underground station are among his other sculptures.

The artist’s son Farquhar said his father had been “a truly talented man”.

Speaking at his family home at Kinkell Castle on the Black Isle, he said his father painted, sculpted, drew and rebuilt cars, castles and motorcycles, but added that his outstanding talent was being a great father.