Two of Scotland’s most notable painters, Peter Howson and Ross Muir, have joined forces to create a major new collaborative painting titled ‘Two Sons’ - after meeting in a West End park.
The painting, which is being revealed for the first time, will go on public display in 2026 at an undisclosed venue before going on private sale.
Meanwhile, the collaboration is being celebrated with a limited-edition release of 200 fine art prints - each co-signed by both artists.
Large-scale
Over the past few weeks, the artists have worked both side-by-side and independently on the new large-scale painting - a remake of Muir’s much-loved painting, ‘Square Gogh’.
Square Gogh is the viral 2018 painting that first brought Muir to national attention. It quickly became a modern Scottish cultural icon, was loaned to the National Museums Liverpool for exhibition, and now resides in a private collection.
The new ‘Two Sons’ work is painted in oils on a 108 cm × 90 cm linen canvas and presents Vincent Van Gogh rendered in Howson’s powerful, muscular style, while Muir adds his unmistakable cultural twists by placing him in a retro Adidas tracksuit within a familiar twilight landscape.
Above him, two suns hang in the sky - a striking visual metaphor that gives the piece its title, symbolising the meeting of two artistic worlds.
Working with Peter has been unreal in the best possible way. He’s 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 - Ross Muir
The collaboration between Muir and Howson began by complete chance. The pair met while walking their dogs in a park in Glasgow’s West End.
Muir introduced himself, and acknowledged Howson as a constant source of inspiration throughout his life and career.
Talking about their chance meeting, Peter said: “When I first met Ross and he showed me his work I knew that here was an artist who had outstanding ability and an amazing imagination.”
Ross said: “Working with Peter has been unreal in the best possible way. He’s 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.
He added: “This isn’t just a dream come true, but pure chance and fate at work. For it to begin with a simple dog walk still blows my mind. Two Sons is both of us on the canvas, exactly as we are.”
Two Sons limited edition prints are now available from RossMuirArt.com, as well as in the GoMA and Kelvingrove Museum stores.
