National Galleries of Scotland

This large portrait depicts ? though not necessarily resembles ? Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly. Born in Glasgow, Connolly served an apprenticeship as a welder in the Clyde shipyards before embarking on a career in show business. He initially focussed on being a folk singer but gradually made the transition to stand-up comedy. His break-through came when he told his famous bike joke on BBC?s Parkinson talk show in 1975. He has since performed for sell-out audiences the world over, produced three `World Tour? series for the BBC and has acted in films including `Mrs Brown? (1995), opposite Dame Judi Dench as Queen Victoria. His Scottish nickname `The Big Yin? (The Big One) is a reference to his 1.83m (6 foot) height.