SIR Paul McCartney is staging his first art show - in Germany.

The songwriter, who lives in Peasmarsh, near Rye, is to exhibit 70 of his colourful paintings.

Portraits of his wife Linda, who died of cancer last year, are likely to be among those shown in the small German town of Siegen from May 1 to July 25.

Gallery curator Wolfgang Suttner asked if he could exhibit the former Beatle's work, amassed over the past 17 years.

But first he wanted to see some of the star's 500 canvasses to see if they were worth showing.

Aspokesman for Sir Paul said: "Several people had asked Paul if they could exhibit his work, not because they liked the art but because it was by Paul McCartney.

"When Wolfgang asked to see it first, it was very refreshing to Paul to find someone who was actually interested in his work."

Sir Paul enjoyed art at school in Liverpool but only started painting seriously at 40, inspired by his personal artist friend Willem de Kooning, who died in 1997.

Sir Paul's work, in oils and acrylic, is abstract. One work, a set of three pictures, is a Salute To The Queen, who knighted him two years ago.

His spokesman said: "I think we can expect much more of this from Paul and I would not be surprised if the exhibition travels."

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