NO, this isn't really a statue of Charles Rennie Mackintosh in George Square. But it gives you an idea how it could look if it gets the go-ahead.

NO, this isn't really a statue of Charles Rennie Mackintosh in George Square. But it gives you an idea how it could look if it gets the go-ahead.

The bust of Mackintosh is the work of top sculptor Andy Scott, who would like to see Glasgow honouring the legendary architect and designer.

He has also drawn sketches which show how the finished statue might look.

Mr Scott caused a stir last week when he said it was time Mackintosh's native city erected a statue in his honour.

He said he was surprised that though Glasgow took great pride in Mackintosh's works, from the Glasgow School of Art to the Willow Tea Rooms and the House for an Art Lover, it had not yet raised a statue to him.

He said: "He was a hugely influential figure and I think it is time for a statue.

"Considering all the tourism, economic and publicity benefits the city has generated from him, there's almost a poetic justice that some kind of a fixed memorial to the man be built.

"The Mackintosh tourism market they are tapping into now is excellent, but to give him some sort of profile would be a really worthwhile idea."

Mr Scott says possible locations for a statue would be George Square or Buchanan Street, near The Lighthouse, which is home to the Mackintosh Tower.

His idea has been supported by the city council, the School of Art and leading architectural firm Keppie, where Mackintosh worked between 1889 and 1913.

Council leader Steven Purcell said: "It is fitting that a contemporary Glasgow artist now wants to commemorate this towering figure in world architecture with a long-overdue statue."

Mr Scott added: "I've been delighted with their expressions of support and also with the reactions of ordinary people as reported in the Evening Times."

The sculptor added that he would like to build the statue himself if the necessary funds are raised.

He said: "A foundry has already given me a range of prices for the casting process. I would like to do most of the modelling myself but would probably hire a number of assistants to help out.

"If we get it to go the way I would like it to be, it would be a fairly substantial piece of work.

"It would be big scale and it would take a while to actually make it."