Widely beloved Scottish playwright and artist John Byrne, who wrote the screenplay of the iconic late '80s BBC show "Tutti Frutti," has recently passed away last Nov. 30 at the age of 83.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Dec. 1, The Fine Art Society wrote: "It is with huge sadness that we announce the death of John Byrne. He died peacefully yesterday with his wife Jeanine by his side. We will miss him tremendously. Our thoughts are with his family."
John Byrne's Unequivocal Contribution to Arts and Culture
According to the gallery, Byrne is among Scotland's "most inventive and versatile modern artists" with his far-reaching involvement in multiple disciplines beyond just TV. For one, Byrne was also responsible for the "Slab Boys Trilogy," which was consequently adapted into a Broadway production in New York, starring Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Val Kilmer, among others.
In addition to this, Byrne's artistic talents extend to the canvas, designing album and song covers for renowned musical acts like The Beatles, Billy Connolly, Donovan, and Gerry Rafferty.
Collecting institutions also recognize Byrne's artistic genius, with his pieces hung on the halls of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery. His most recent work is a mural splayed across the ceiling of the King's Theatre located in Edinburgh.
Previous Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Byrne's loss is "terribly sad" news considering he is "one of Scotland's most important cultural voices of modern times and the loveliest of men." The Scottish artist also designed Stugreon's Christmas card during her early days in office as the First Minister.
Echoing his predecessor's opinion on Byrne was Humza Yousaf, the current First Minister of Scotland, who stated on X that "Scotland has lost a cultural icon" in Byrne's passing and that "the world is less bright" now.
