An eye-catching and colourful painting which immortalises Perth with a quirky bird’s eye view of the city has gone on sale for £9,500 at a new exhibition.
The Fair City by Selkirk-based painter Rob Hain is being showcased at the nature and landscapes exhibit by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) at the Fair Maid’s House in Perth.
The painting is priced at £9,500 at the city centre exhibition which launched on Saturday, with a percentage of the sale going towards supporting the work of RSGS whose chief executive Mike Robinson originally commissioned the piece.
Mr Robinson hopes the opportunity to buy the arresting artwork will appeal to local trusts and businesses.
He said: “The opportunity to purchase The Fair City is not to be missed.
“This is a wonderful, vibrant interpretation of the city – more a reflection of 9am on a Saturday morning and containing lots of stories and local characters.
“And, by buying the piece, you’d be supporting the work of a fantastic artist and a dynamic small charity.
“If you haven’t quite got £9,500 to hand there will be limited edition prints on offer which, with Christmas on the horizon, would make perfect gifts for anyone with connections to our great wee city.”
Artist Rob Hain spent three days photographing the city before returning to his studio in Selkirk to begin working on the painting.
Hidden among the familiar landmarks, such as the concert hall and St John’s Kirk, is a wealth of detail that will intrigue locals and anyone with a knowledge of the area.
In an attempt to capture its unique character the artist also included the city’s annual Kilt Run, with competitors running past dragon boats on the River Tay.
Mr Hain said: “The soul of Perth is to be found in its people, whether it’s the Kilt Run or the Tay Descent or some equally exhausting event, the people of Perth seem up for it.”
The Fair City will be on display at the Fair Maid’s House Visitor Centre as part of the larger exhibit which also features the work of Guardian cartoonist Nick Hayes and Perth artist Claire Harkness.
The exhibit runs from Thursday to Saturday between 1pm and 4.30pm until October 26.
