During the 1970s, Paisley was propelled to the epicentre of the country’s punk scene and has since become a legendary part of the town's history.
So it is entirely fitting that one of the artists who helped define the aesthetic of the British punk movement has chosen Paisley as the location for his exhibition showcasing 50 years of his work.
Jamie Reid, who is famous for his iconic faux-ransom-note letters and iconoclastic defacement of pop culture and nationalistic images has launched the showcase of his work titled Taking Liberties! 50 Years of Protest- which will display a collection of his artwork dating from 1970-2020.
He is well-known for his talents which helped shape the punk movement, most famously for his work with the Sex Pistols, which included the covers of the the band’s albums Never Mind the Bollocks and Here’s the Sex Pistols, as well as their singles Anarchy in the UK and God Save the Queen’.
The collection of rarely-seen and controversial art will be on display in Made in Paisley in he town’s High Street until October 28.
Owners of the studio - and fellow artists - Caroline Gormely and Sandy Guy say they are honoured to be hsoting the exhibition and are urging people to come along and see the work for themselves.
Together with their creative producer, Maria Guy, they worked hard to secure the exhibition which they feel is important given the town’s rich history of punk culture.
Punk began in London 45 years ago and quickly caught the imagination of youth looking for an outlet to protest against the Establishment and Paisley became the centre of punk culture in Scotland.
The late 1970s and early 80s saw an explosion of the punk culture and music scene in the town after Glasgow banned punk bands from playing in the city.
Caroline told the Express: “We are absolutely delighted that Jamie Reid is showcasing his work here at Made in Paisley.
“This is such an important exhibition and particularly because of the history of punk culture in the town.
“His work is absolutely iconic and to see all of the important protest work which he has done over the years is just fantastic.
“I would really encourage people to come along and have a look as it sheds a light on so many issues, some of which are still so important today.”
The 74-year-old artist, from Croydon, may be most associated in people’s minds with the Sex Pistols, his work with protest movements such as No Clause 28, Greenpeace and the Anti-Poll Tax Alliance in the 90s cemented him as one of the great radical artists.
Examples of his work are on display in The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Tate Gallery in London, among others.
He has also made his mark on the fashion world, having worked many times with punk and new wave fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and Japanese fashion icon Rei Kawakubo.
In 2017, Reid teamed up with Italian fashion designer Valentino for his Spring Collection, designing phrases like Reclaim your heritage. Beauty is a birthright and It seemed to be the end until the next beginning that appeared on hats, coats, jackets, and capes, as well as knitted into brightly coloured sweaters.
John Marchant, of Marchant Gallery, which represents Jamie Reid, said: "Taking Liberties! will address an important part of his most influential work to date.
"After all, at it's heart, punk was both romantic and political and Reid was acknowledged as the driving force of rage against the monarchy, the state and the status quo.
"It is in this human warmth and compassion where Jamie’s greatest strengths as an artist lie, and what he wants to do more than anything is to encourage others to fulfil their potential.
"And that’s Punk."
The exhibition is open from 10.30am until 4.30pm every Monday to Thursday.
