THE artist famed for her paintings of Glasgow tenements has pledged her support for a scheme that hopes to offer children free piano lessons.

Avril Paton was asked to paint a piano housed in Queen’s Cross Church, in Maryhill, which was designed by celebrated architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The charity Glasgow Piano City, which provides free pianos for public use, is seeking funding for a programme of free piano lessons, in partnership with Queen’s Cross Housing Association.

Avril was asked to decorate a piano, which was donated to the charity.

She said: “I’ve never painted on anything like a piano before and there were some challenges, including getting the paint to adhere to the polished wood, but it turned out well in the end.

“I had such fun coming to the church every day.

"Normally, I’m alone in my studio from 10.30am for several days at a time.

"Coming to the church and interacting with all the people coming and going was great fun.”

Paton shot to fame in the 1990s when her painting of a tenement block on Glasgow’s Saltoun Street, following a snow blizzard, became one of Scotland’s most popular paintings.

It has since sold more than 30,000 prints and over 1000 cards featuring the work.”

Voluntary Action Fund provides around £10,000 of funding to the society.

Development Officer, Valerie Carson said: “This is just the sort of volunteering project we are keen to support."

www.glasgowpianocity.org/