Holmes pop artist dead

Pop artist Gerald Laing, who created Edinburgh’s iconic statue of Sherlock Holmes in Picardy Place, has died at the age of 75.

As well as A Memorial to Sir Arthur, Laing is famous for two rugby-themed works at Twickenham Stadium in south-west London. He also received portrait commissions from figures such as Luciano Pavarotti.

Laing, who was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, trained at Sandhurst and joined the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, the same regiment as his father.