Acclaimed Highland coo artist puts Oor Wullie in the frame

OOR WULLIE has become pure woolie after inspiring one of Scotland’s most in-demand artists.

Steven Brown, the man behind the best-selling Highland Cow McCoo paintings, has completed a special commission featuring The Sunday Post’s lovable mischief-maker.

He said: “I’ve always loved Oor Wullie. To paint him was a complete and utter privilege.

“It’s one of those things I could tick off my bucket list and feel now I can die happy.”

Steven prizes his collection of ’70s Oor Wullie annuals but his fabulous collaboration with DC Thomson Media is very much a 2018 affair, with the character’s hair every colour of the rainbow.

“I didn’t feel pressure because I took it from the original black and white drawings,” revealed dad-of-three Steven.

“I’ve made his spiky hair multi-coloured but his face, body shape and everything else is traditional.”

Steven has become a global phenomenon, after a near-fatal wake-up call.

McCoo Artist, Steven Brown (45) with his comissioned artwork for DC Thomson.

He had a major heart attack in 2010 at the age of 37 while he was working as a manager for KFC. Eager to impress, he was working long hours and pushing himself to the limit.

“It’s a young man’s game and if I’d stayed I’d have been in a box under the ground by now,” said Irvine-based Steven.

“The heart attack was a bad one and I used the time off to start to learn how to paint.

“I was always a good sketcher but I’d never known how to paint so I’ve spent every day for the past eight years teaching myself.”

WIN: Steven Brown Art McCoo bumper prize pack

Steven’s initial heart attack steered him towards a fresh artistic career but he suffered a second heart attack three years ago.

“I had stents put in to deal with that but as a result of the heart attack I took severe depression,” he confided. “It was the art I used to get out of that. I still take the pills, but I’m 99.5% recovered because of my art.”

Steven’s wife Caroline and their three kids Linzi, 28, Jordan, 22, and Megan, 19, are all heavily involved in his booming business empire. His canvases have found growing numbers of celebrity fans with Katie Price and Rebekah Vardy among the devotees.

However, it’s his influence on a new generation that gives him most pride.

“When I was a kid, if my dad hung a painting on the wall I’d have thought it was just all right. But now parents are buying a McCoo and their kids know it and are really excited by it.”