Two of Scotland's most prominent artists, Peter Howson and Ross Muir, have unveiled a remarkable collaboration that combines their distinctive artistic styles in a new painting of Vincent van Gogh. The artwork, titled "Two Sons," merges Howson's powerful, muscular painting technique with Muir's signature contemporary twist of incorporating retro Adidas tracksuits into classical art.
The collaboration began serendipitously when the two artists met while walking their dogs in a park in Glasgow's west end. What started as casual conversations between dog walkers eventually evolved into an artistic partnership that showcases both painters' unique approaches to their craft.
"Two Sons" serves as a remake of Muir's widely celebrated "Square Gogh" piece, which catapulted him to national fame in 2018 when it went viral and received recognition from the Van Gogh Museum. The original work gained attention for its witty reimagining of iconic artwork, featuring Van Gogh in modern athletic wear.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast show, Muir explained how the collaboration developed naturally. "We had had a couple of conversations and I kept thinking I could do Square Gogh in his style," he said. "I started it by myself, but then the painting got better and better. It was looking more like his, it was looking more like mine, so I sent an image to him and eventually he told me he loved it - it just worked."
Peter Howson brings decades of artistic expertise to the collaboration, having established himself as a major figure in the art world throughout the 1980s. After spending time in the army and traveling, Howson returned to Glasgow and became renowned for his powerful depictions of working-class life, capturing stories of economic hardship and social tension. His career reached international prominence in the 1990s when he served as the official British war artist for Bosnia, creating some of his most talked-about works including "The Massacre of Srebrenica."
Muir expressed deep admiration for his collaborator, stating: "Peter is one of the greatest living artists of our time, and I've looked up to him since the day I first picked up a brush. You can't escape his influence in the Glasgow art scene - his work is everywhere, in the best collections and in every conversation about painting. And when you finally see a Howson piece in the flesh, you understand exactly why."
The artwork itself features a background that echoes Van Gogh's famous "Starry Night," but with a unique twist - two suns hang in the sky, symbolically representing the meeting of the two artists and their distinct styles. "Two Sons is both of us on the canvas, exactly as we are," Muir explained, emphasizing how the collaboration authentically represents both artists' contributions.
The painting is scheduled to go on public display in 2026 at a venue that has not yet been disclosed. Following its public exhibition, "Two Sons" will be made available for private sale, giving collectors an opportunity to own this unique collaboration between two of Scotland's most notable contemporary artists.
