Big Yin Portraits: Eight of your brilliant Billy Connolly artworks

14 June 2017

With three new murals of Billy Connolly leaving the comic "overjoyed", we've been asking you to share your Billy Connolly portraits with us. Here are some of the best entries so far by fans across the country along with details of how you can share your own #BigYinPortrait.

Deborah Sherwood, who hails from Stockton-on-Tees, first submitted her Billy Connolly watercolour last year for the Parkinson's UK Mervyn Peake Awards in 2016. In her entry she refers to a quote by Billy: "It was scary at first, it isn't any more."

Deborah says: "Diagnosed five years ago at the age of 54, this 'scary' quote from Billy epitomises everything about my feelings towards Parkinson's. I find a sense of humour, and the way Billy relates to life's challenges, helps me too.

"I have always found his way of looking at the world hilarious and his determination to carry on making people laugh is inspirational.
After all, laughter is the best medicine."

Anne lives in Coleraine, on the north coast of Northern Ireland. She says: "The painting was completed 15 years ago and hangs in my sitting room. It was painted in oils, with some details in charcoal. The wetness of the spirits on the oils afforded me the ability to manipulate the paint in a loose and suggestive manner.

"The painting is very different from my current work of abstracts and installations. At the time I was experimenting with an unfinished style of painting, something that was little more than the under layers of the work.

"Billy Connolly came from humble beginnings, and he has been frank about these and his ongoing health issues. It is touching and unpretentious that he is open enough to share these details.

"Billy is nothing short of inspirational, first as a fine comedian whose art was to make us laugh in the face of the trials and tribulations of life, and in past years as an excellent actor - never without his fabulous Scottish accent. The mix of his wit, success and accessibility places the Big Yin with fondness into the British psyche. Happy Birthday, Billy."

Suman Kaur lives in Leeds, and was the winner of this year's Big Painting Challenge on BBC One. She says: "The portrait is based on a still from a stand-up show.

"Occasionally you'll see Billy stop and concentrate on how to deliver the next part of the story - like a small silence before a firework is let off. I like that and wanted to capture that still tension.

"Billy has a remarkable storytelling talent that has always had me in fits of laughter. I always love to watch him progress with a tale in stand-up - when you watch him perform it almost feels like you're living the story.

"It's simply creative genius. He is a special talent and always is on my telly when I need a boost. Oh, and he has brilliant hair."

Mark lives in Derby. He says: "I used printing and acrylic because it was quick and I wanted it started and finished in one day. It took about three hours. I have seen him live twice in Nottingham, and can really identify with his observations and take on the world - he's a very funny guy."