British Music Icons Featured in New Exhibitions By Liverpool Artist Billy Scott

Talented Liverpool artist Billy Scott is staging two new exhibitions of work celebrating some of the biggest and best-loved names in British music.

The first exhibition for the city council cleaning manager, who produces his uncanny portraits in his spare time, will be showcasing a number of famous musical faces in the aptly-named Star Café in the Cunard Building on Liverpool's world-famous waterfront.

This new exhibition titled Pictures on My Wall is now open, and follows a successful solo show, Simulacra, at St George's Hall last year when the dad-of-three premiered his fine line-drawn images.

The exhibition at The Star Cafe gives a chance for this hidden gem to shine. Located in a prime spot on the ground floor of the historic Cunard Building it offers quality food and drink, free wi-fi, and a brilliant music soundtrack playing throughout the day.

Since opening last year, it provides the perfect spot to have a coffee before exploring the waterfront or before visiting the café's host organisation the British Music Experience.

The café is happy to welcome this temporary exhibition of Billy's work which captures British music icons in rare moments.

Cat Smith, The Star Café Manager said: "I'm delighted that the Café is able to host this temporary exhibition of Billy's work. Hopefully it will help more people to become aware of the great food and drink offerings we have in this lovely space. We work closely with local independent bakery, Cuthbert's, who provide fresh home-made sandwiches and cakes.

"The café is obviously music themed in line with the rest of the BME and as a permanent fixture in the café we have a range of brilliant photographs of British music icons for people to enjoy while they enjoy their drinks. We have previously had on display in the café a specially commissioned portrait of Gerri Halliwell from The Spice Girls. This was painted by Hetty Lawlor, the runner up in this year's Portrait Photographer of the Year programme on Sky Arts and it was gifted to us as part of the show."

Billy's work will also return to St George's Hall in another new exhibition titled Liverpool Luminaries; 35-40 new pieces will be on display in the Café of the Grade II listed landmark building from Fri 3 August - Sun 2 September.

St George's Hall General Manager Alan Smith added: "We are thrilled to bring more of Billy Scott's portraits to visitors of St George's Hall. His work has such universal appeal and with his last exhibition, Simulacra, proving incredibly popular I have no doubt these new pieces will attract people from Liverpool and beyond, and is certain to be a highlight of the summer here at St George's Hall."

All his work is created in a shed at his home in Anfield.

Billy Scott started drawing as a child.

After attending Anfield Comprehensive, in 1984 at the age of 17, he started his working career on a Youth Training Scheme with the city council in the then Central Liverpool Training Workshop, studying signwriting.

While there his artistic flair was spotted by lecturers and he embarked on a six-month study of art, building up a portfolio of work to be presented to Liverpool School of Art and Design.

But having turned down the chance to undertake a degree in Fine Arts, Billy put studying to one side and continued with art as a hobby, concentrating on portraits of footballers and celebrities.

To date, this hobby has seen the body of artwork grow to include more than 500 drawings, which remain in his private collection.

PICTURES ON MY WALL EXHIBITION

The Star Café @ The British Music Experience

Cunard Building, Liverpool, L3 1DS

Open Daily from 9am - 5:30pm

LIVERPOOL LUMINARIES EXHIBITION

Fri 3 August - Sun 2 September

Café @ St George's Hall

St George's Hall, Heritage Centre Entrance, St John's Lane, Liverpool.

Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm