Dead artist's work soars in value

THE work of a Scottish painter has trebled in value since he died of a drugs overdose at a Hogmanay party a year ago.

Robert Laird was hailed as one of the brightest stars of the arts scene before dying after celebrating the start of 2003 in London.

Many of the artist’s earlier works were destroyed by a jealous girlfriend and only 20 remain, the value of which has risen from 1,000 to at least 3,000.

Now celebrity spoon-bender Uri Geller is among those interested in purchasing his work, and the National Galleries of Scotland are considering exhibiting four paintings.

Richard Stewart, a close friend of Laird’s, bought four paintings from the artist before he died aged 30.

"I originally bought them to help him out because he was always so broke," he said.

Stewart, a car dealer who grew up with the artist in Edinburgh’s Oxgangs area, said that he had been told the value of the paintings had increased threefold.

He also said Uri Geller, who had offered to sponsor the young artist before he died, had been bombarding him with e-mails asking if he could buy Laird’s paintings.

"He kept sending me e-mails asking how much I wanted for the paintings. I don’t really want to sell them to him so I didn’t get back to him," he said.

Finally Geller made him an offer last week. Stewart said: "He told me he would give me 1,000 for all four and that he wanted to put them in a special pyramid which he uses to inspire sick children.

"However, they’ve been valued at 15,000 for all four, so I’ve just not bothered getting back to him."

He said a curator from the Modern Art Gallery had seen the paintings with a view to exhibiting them. "I’m still waiting to hear back from them," he added.

A spokeswoman for the Modern Art Gallery confirmed that they had seen Laird’s paintings. "A curator has been round to look at the work," she said.

Zin Craig, who exhibited Laird’s work at her Edinburgh Sable Art Gallery when he started out, said he would be able to sell the collection of paintings for about 15,000.

"Given that the artist died, and given the interest that has been shown in his work, it would not be an unreasonable fee," she said. "Laird will be looking down and laughing."

Laird’s father said his son was on the brink of hitting the big time before he died.

"He’d got quite a strong international following and sold paintings in India, Australia and Canada. It’s a tragedy he never got to fulfil his ambitions and make it really big as an artist."

He said last year he drew up plans to start a trust fund to help struggling young artists in memory of his son.

He also plans to stage an exhibition piecing together paintings which were destroyed by Laird’s girlfriend in a jealous rage. "I’m going to try and piece them all together and hold an exhibition in his honour at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange," he said.