Ronnie Wood: Painting is spiritual

The guitarist is known largely for his hellraising days as part of legendary group The Rolling Stones, recently admitting it took him years to perform on stage sober.

But Ronnie has another, more subdued, hobby and has revealed that this complements the more rowdy side to his character which people see with the band.

“I get an incredible flood of spiritual and emotional relief when I go off and paint on my own, and then I can go and play music as part of a band and be one of the gang,” the music veteran told Uncut magazine. “I’m lucky to have both those forms of release.”

The 63-year-old - who has exhibited his work in various locations across the world and been featured on the South Bank Show in the UK – is very thankful his pastime allows him to vent his pent-up aggression. Ronnie uses all the spare time he has to get his ideas down on canvas.

“A lot of people get wound up because they have no way of getting rid of all that emotion. So I paint whenever I’m getting the chance and I’m feeling inspired,” he explained. “I painted last night and have loads of stuff waiting to be shown.”

The rocker admits it’s funny how his work, like his group, will be travelling around the globe. His latest paintings will shortly be on show in the US. “I’ve got a bit exhibition opening at the Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio and that’s going to go on tour – my band will be on one tour and my paintings on another,” he said.