A GREENOCK artist whose inspirations include Prince, Prosecco, and Pilates, is presenting her first solo show in one of Inverclyde’s best-known visitor attractions.
Jacqui McKeown, exhibiting as Angie Gun, has brought Low Brow to the upstairs gallery at The Wyllieum.
The colourful collection is full of big and bold pieces, themed around everything from dancing and gossip, to Elvis and Millport.
Jacqui (Angie), 55, describes Low Brow as a ‘celebration of Jesus, mince, and drinking’.
She added: “My art is all big and eye-catching and in your face.
“It get my ideas from looking at a lot of art, and I’m really inspired by music and just talking to people.
“I love visual jokes. The ideas just come to me.”
(Image: George Munro)
(Image: George Munro) Jacqui, who is a huge fan of Prince, studied film and photography at the University of Westminster in the 1990s and lived in London for 14 years.
She became really interested in movement and the body and started teaching Pilates, which she still does today in her studio in Greenock.
In 2019, Jacqui decided to revisit her artistic roots and start painting.
She added: “I feel like I’ve reclaimed a bit of my identity and creative roots.
“You don’t need permission from anyone to paint and you can do what you want.
“I’m really creative with my Pilates teaching too and that involves a lot of problem-solving.”
Jacqui enjoys trying out different artistic styles and paints on canvas using acrylics, often using gemstones and different textures.
Some of her art is displayed in her Greenock west end home, which made it through to the final eight of Inverclyde’s Best Home competition.
Jacqui secured the spot in the upstairs gallery at The Wyllieum after contacting CEO Willie Sutherland.
She said the autobiographical show has prompted a great response from the public.
(Image: George Munro)Jacqui, and her alter ego Angie, have a clear message for anyone considering tapping into their creative side.
She said: “I started to do this a bit later on in life. I am doing this 30 years later than I expected to be.
“If you want to do something, just do it.
“It doesn’t matter if anyone sees it or if it sells; it’s good for your brain.”
(Image: George Munro) Wyllieum CEO Willie Sutherland said: “We are delighted to be showing Jacqui’s work.
“Her sense of fun and irreverence is right at home here, and our visitors are really enjoying her exhibition.”
Low Brow will run in The Wyllieum until August 31.