John Byrne's Rare Beatles Painting Sells for £27,700 at Auction

A rare 1969 painting of The Beatles by Scottish artist John Byrne has sold for £27,700 at auction, significantly exceeding its estimated value of £10,000 to £15,000. The artwork features each Beatle alongside a 'spirit animal,' with Yoko Ono depicted in a crystal ball held by John Lennon. It was part of a collection of ten works purchased by Father Tom Jamieson in the early 1970s, all of which were sold at Lyon & Turnbull's Contemporary Art sale. Charlotte Riordan, head of contemporary art at the auction house, noted the strong interest in Byrne's work, particularly in light of new Beatles biopics being announced. The painting also has historical significance, having previously been used as the frontispiece for 'The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics' and later as the cover for 'The Beatles Ballads' LP. Byrne, who passed away in November 2023, was known for his distinctive contributions to Scottish culture, including the TV show 'Tutti Frutti.'