Billy Connolly's sketches on display

Billy Connolly has revealed a new strand to his career – as a fine artist.

The comedian and occasional folk singer, took up sketching as a hobby in 2007 when bored on a on a rainy day in Montreal. And now he is putting some of his works on display.

An exhibition has already been held at the Castle Fine Art Gallery in Birmingham, and another opens in London on Saturday.

Connolly began by sketching a series desert islands in his Canada hotel room. He said: ‘The fifth island, I noticed, was considerably better than the first one.’

He took up the hobby with proper gusto in 2010, when he began to create the Born On A Rainy Day series, named in reference to that dull day in Montreal, and which is now going on display

He said of his art: ‘It bears no relation to comedy or music. My art is pure and un-judged, I am creating for myself, it is personal and private; whereas with a film, comedy show or music you expect people to be critiquing, watching, assessing. Art is different, it liberates you.’

Each piece in the Born On A Rainy Day is available as one of 95 limited edition prints, each priced £395 unframed

Here is some of his work:

Published: 15 Mar 2012