Glasgow gets a new street art tribute to Billy Connolly

He may be an 82-year-old knight of the realm, but Sir Billy Connolly is still baring his bum to the people of Glasgow.

A piece of street art showing the Big Yin, naked except for his trademark banana boots, has appeared in Nelson Mandela Place.

It has been created by artists Conzo Throb and Ciaran Globel.

Throb said: ‘I've had this as a loose idea in my mind and sketchbook for two years now.  It was recently on my morning commutes that I saw a massive blank wall erected at Nelson Mandela Place by workers. I knew it was the wall for this idea, so I acted immediately.

‘It's an ode to the late great John Byrne and his 2002 painting of his friend Billy. In the corner of this painting was a small wild mischievous streaking man in his banana boots.  I also have a strange imprinted memory of seeing a giddy, giggly Billy streaking on the TV when I was a kid too.

‘We have fine and beautiful portrait murals of him in town. But I wanted to make a fun and silly one for a fun and silly man.  It would never have got approved by the council or a client for an official commission. So it was a cheeky self-permitted mission for the locals who would love and get a laugh from it.’

There are already three official  Connolly murals in the city, which were put up to mark his 75th birthday.

Published: 15 Apr 2025