BRUSH WITH FAME; Celebs desperate to snap up Joe's work.

Byline: MIKE MERRITT 

A FORMER labourer who taught himself to paint now sells his work to celebrity fans for pounds 10,000 a time.

Joe O'Brien's talent was spotted by a tutor at Glasgow University, where he used to earn pounds 150 a week dishing out change for the pool table.

Now his work is keenly collected by the likes of Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle and Kirsty Wark.

Joe, 47, of Anniesland, Glasgow, said: "My working life has been spent in andout of dead-end jobs but one day a tutor sawmysketches and said I was in the wrong job.

"It hit home. That night I decided to become a fulltime artist. It's been a struggle but I have never regretted that decision.

"I am aware that some big names have bought my work but the money and kudos means little to me.

"It is the thrill and passion I have for my painting that matters most."

Joe, whose first solo show opens in Glasgow later this month, has been hailed as "thenewPeterHowson"and his work sells for thousands.

Ayrshire artist Howson said: "Joe has remarkable talent and i s clearly Scotland's rising star."

And Marcus MacLeod, of Glasgow's ArtdeCaf, said: "Joe is the best new artist I have seen for years and he is getting better all the time."

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CAPTION(S):

Unique style: Joe has been dubbed "the new Howson" Star fans: Joe's work is collected by actors Ewan and Robert