Patrick Stewart hails image as it goes on display in Capital

HE has boldly gone where no artist has gone before.

Frank To created a striking image of actor Patrick Stewart, aka Star Trek Captain Jean-Luc Picard, in the style of a Roman emperor.

And when the artist showed it to the man himself at a gallery in Leith, the 68-year-old Stewart – currently in the Capital performing in Waiting for Godot at the King's Theatre – gave it his seal of approval.

The actor became friends with the young artist when Mr To was a student and he was chancellor of Huddersfield University.

Stewart admired his work at a graduate exhibition and bought two pictures. Since then, he has eagerly followed his career and was happy to sit for a portrait.

His profile, in red and orange colours, is one of the eye-catching paintings now on display at the Leith Gallery, on The Shore.

Stewart said: "For me, it was especially gratifying to find a student whose work was so exciting and fresh. Since then, I've got to know him and keep abreast of his exhibitions. I've got pictures by him in both my homes. I'm very impressed by his latest work. It's very different from his earlier pictures, which were very abstract."

He said he has enjoyed returning to Edinburgh for the first time in more than a decade. He is performing until tomorrow in the sell-out production, opposite his X-Men co-star Sir Ian McKellen.

He said: "I'm here with my girlfriend this time, and we've had time to be tourists. We've loved it – I wish I could stay longer.

"It's such a beautiful city and unlike anywhere else. I'm a fan of architecture and I've enjoyed walking up streets and looking at all the details on old buildings. We also enjoyed the Turner and Italy exhibition.

"We've had a wonderful welcome, with full houses every night. One of the most charming things is, in every city, we've used local young actors. We've really enjoyed working with them."

Mr To, 26, who is originally from Falkirk, said Stewart's interest and encouragement had been a huge morale boost.

He is already making a name for himself as a figurative artist, with exhibitions in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. His work has also featured on STV's Rebus.

He said: "I met Patrick by chance when he came to my degree show. I was very surprised.

"It's been nice to have someone like that support me and believe in me. It was a massive boost."

He said he had been inspired by depictions of kings and emperors on ancient coins when painting the portrait. He said: "I was thinking about art and propaganda, and why they put the head of the monarch on to coins. Patrick acted in Anthony and Cleopatra, and that inspired the idea."