ALISTAIR KERR
A Different Kind of World Cup Draw
Gill Sherry
There’s no denying that art, in all of its different forms, is subjective. What resonates with one person could be totally lost on another. That said, there can’t be many people who don’t appreciate Alistair Kerr’s football-themed paintings. Unless of course, they don’t like football!
When our Zoom call connects, I’m instantly drawn to the dozens of colourful paintings on display, and I feel a smile spread across my face in response. They really are eye-catching, and I’m keen to learn more about the man who painted them.
Alistair remembers being pretty good at art as a boy, but it wasn’t until he retired that he began to take it seriously.
“I worked for East Ayrshire Council as a Roads Inspector for 35 years. I’d dabbled in drawings and caricatures for friends, family and work colleagues over the years so once I retired I started to do a wee bit of painting.”
He also made (and still makes) animated films which can be viewed on his YouTube channel, Front Room Productions.
“One day, I decided to do a football painting in Kilmarnock colours. I didn’t think it was very good, but my wife suggested I take it into the stadium shop.”
It took him a year to pluck up the courage to do so, and when he did, the response was a positive one. Since then, his framed prints have been offered for sale at the Killie Superstore at Rugby Park.
It would be easy to assume that Alistair is a Kilmarnock fan but he admits: “I’m not really bothered one way or another.”
He chose Kilmarnock because the team was local to his home in Kilmaurs, but he’s happy to base his paintings on the colours of other teams including, of course, Celtic and Rangers. Not forgetting Ayr United!
“Once I got going, I got a few commissions from football supporters, and it just built up from there. I’ve been doing some Scottish stuff ready for the World Cup.”
Alistair had painted a couple of Tartan Army paintings a year or so ago which were displayed in Wellington Gallery in Kilmarnock. The originals sold but prints are still available and, with the World Cup looming, he plans on adding to his Scotland collection.
I can’t help thinking that a cartoon version of Scott McTominay’s overhead kick would go down rather well. Apparently, I’m not the first person to suggest this. Nor am I the first to compare his characters to Reg Smythe’s Andy Capp, although, Alistair’s paintings have a vibrant, distinctive style which is very much his own. I ask him how that style developed.
“I couldn’t draw a life figure,” he says. “I don’t have the skill for that. So I thought I’d make it as simple as I could with a cartoon. Once I put the woolly hats on and you couldn’t see the eyes, I thought I’d just draw the nose and leave the mouth out as well. I didn’t think it was up to much at first, but a lot of people liked the style so I just went with it.”
And what a great decision that was! Alistair’s paintings are not only unique but also colourful and fun. Was it always his intention to add humour to his work?
“Aye. It’s the same with my animations. I always try and bring in humour. That’s what I’m aiming at – for people to look at the painting and it makes them smile. I like to keep it light.”
As well as the Killie Superstore, you can purchase Alistair’s work from Wellington Gallery and from an on-line shop called Ayrshire Artists.
“This is Hugh Rankin’s website, he’s a Kilmarnock artist. He encouraged me to go forward with my paintings, so he’s been a big help.”
Alistair (along with the rest of the country) will be hoping Scotland can go forward with their World Cup campaign, not least because he has a vested interested in their success.
“The more interest in the team, the more interest in me!” he laughs. “I’ll probably do another couple of Scotland paintings before the World Cup, just to mix it up. I’ve got four or five Tartan Army paintings at the moment, but another couple would go down well.”
Commissions start at £180 and if you’d like to discuss your painting requirements with Alistair, you can contact him via this email address: aliritakerr@gmail.com
