Gypsy, Artist, Rock Star, Legend.
His life reads like a film script; from a family of water gypsies, Ronnie Wood was the first in his family to be born on dry land. That, as beginnings go, is pretty juicy. Ronnie’s story continues with him rubbing shoulders with big names from an early age whilst exploring his creativity, Ronnie’s alternative upbringing played an important role in shaping his future as a British Icon.
Ronnie’s iconic status is due to his prolific 50 year music career. The catapult to stardom came in 1975 when he joined the legendary Rolling Stones who have achieved an estimated 250 million album sales worldwide leaving not many people left in the dark about who Ronnie Wood is.
Not everyone knows about Ronnie’s other talents though, before joining The Birds in 1964 he trained at Ealing Art College in the 60s along with other musical greats such as Freddie Mercury and Peter Townshend.
Throughout his musical career Ronnie continued with his art and used it to document some of the most memorable musical greats of the times. Ronnie has captured Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Slash, Ray Charles and Bob Marley to name but a few.
Ronnie never had to look far for inspiration as his own band mates are huge personalities and larger than life icons. Ronnie has produced many wonderful collections of The Stones giving fans an insight into their favourite band through Ronnie’s eyes – a kind of artistic autobiography.
The latest collection has just been released and comprises a set of four portraits drawn by Ronnie during The Stones’ last UK tour. Each band member is drawn in their element; Jagger playing front man with the mic, Charlie Watts on drums, Keith Richards singing on bass and Ronnie Wood beaming on guitar. Does this collection say something about how Ronnie feels about his bandmates? I think that’s for the viewer to decide and decipher.
The new collection is a testament to the Stones’ longevity and celebrates them as a band and as individual musicians. The collection is only available as a full set of four and it seems only right that the band shouldn’t be separated after all this time.
There are only 295 editions worldwide which Ronnie has also signed making them a very special addition to any collection. Westover Gallery in Bournemouth have been fortunate enough to secure some of these editions and will of course be giving them star treatment in the gallery offering them centre stage and glasses of bubbly for fans to enjoy.
