It’s been a good week for ... wildlife
HEARD the one about the Highland stag at the American Super Bowl? A Scotland-based artist was more than a little surprised to discover a piece of his artwork had taken centre-stage at the star-spangled event – thanks to Justin Timberlake.
Martin Ridley returned from a day in the Perthshire mountains to discover his painting, Ben Halton Stags, had been showcased across the chest of half-time performer Timberlake. Although Ridley had sent the artwork to fashion designer Stella McCartney, he'd no idea (no eyed deer? Sorry, that's another joke entirely) that it was for the singer's stage outfit.
Ridley, 50, had been asked to collaborate on some designs by McCartney, who was looking for wildlife-style artwork for a new project. The artist, who lives in Comrie, only found out about his high-profile exhibit when he switched on his PC to find his inbox filled with press inquiries from around the world.
Timberlake's starring role in the half-time show as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in Minneapolis on Sunday evening had sent him viral.
"It was a bit surreal," said Ridley. "When the news broke I had just been out on a misty, snowy mountain top in the bleakest weather for about six hours.”
It's believed the outfit was inspired by the title of Timberlake's new album The Man Of The Woods. McCartney explained on Twitter that Timberlake had worn “an alter-nappa fringed jacket with an organic cotton shirt featuring a landscape artwork”.
My sartorial sensibilities are limited, but some investigation reveals that alter nappa is a “leather substitute derived from polyester, polyurethane and a coating made from 50 per cent vegetable oil”. All very environmentally friendly.
Might I suggest, though, that Harris Tweed could have been a more appropriate alternative? I can just see Justin Timberlake sporting a deer stalker.
It’s been a bad week for ... wildlife
An Aberdeenshire farmer was alarmed to discover a tiger on his land.
Armed police were dispatched to the farm at Hatton, near Peterhead, after an emergency call.
However, the flying tiger squad were stood down after it was discovered that the big cat was not an escapee from a wildlife park but a cuddly toy.
But they earned their stripes all the same.
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