Footballer's art goes to auction

A COLLECTION of paintings by one of Scotland's finest post-war artists - who also turned out for Scotland at football - is expected to fetch more than £40,000 at auction next week.

Fife artist John Houston OBE, who died in 2008, was best known for his flower paintings and seascapes, particularly the Bass Rock off North Berwick.

But he also carved out a career in football, playing for Dundee United while studying at art school in Edinburgh and turning out for Scotland's under-21 side at outside-left in a match against England before suffering a serious knee injury.

Eleven of his artworks are to be auctioned at Bonhams' fine art sale in Edinburgh on next Tuesday and are estimated to fetch sums ranging from 700 to 8,000 each.