A FLAT in Rhu that was once home to one of the Helensburgh area's most renowned artists has been put up for sale - and the Advertiser has been given a sneak peek around the jaw-dropping interior.
The late Richard Dawson, who died in September 2021, lived in the three-bedroom upper floor property in Caldwell Place.
And while the property might not immediately catch the eye from a brief look at the exterior, one glance at the inside is enough to confirm that this is no ordinary home.
The property is being marketed by the Helensburgh office of estate agents Property Bureau - who told the Advertiser that stepping inside the flat is like "stepping into Narnia".
Richard owned a gallery in Helensburgh for almost 30 years; his influences were varied, but included a three-year study of the works of famed Italian painter, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
Nearly 10 years ago, Richard told the Advertiser how that study - sparked by watching a documentary on the life of Caravaggio, who had died aged just 38 - had inspired him to create 70 brand new works.
As these pictures, shared with the Advertiser, show, the interior of the home demonstrates Richard's remarkable talent to maximum effect, and takes you back in time with intricate stone and murals.
Richard's work was varied in his lifetime, but mainly concentrated on small pieces. His large scale works included murals and paint effects, and can be seen in Harrods, Dior and in private residences in the the Channel Islands, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
His smaller works adorn the walls of Highland castles and London townhouses.
Slightly closer to home, in 2017 the Advertiser reported how Richard had been commissioned to create a mural on the wall of one of Glasgow's best-known Indian restaurants.
He'd originally created the work at the Ashoka West End in Kelvingrove in 1994 - and though it was later painted over in a subsequent refurbishment, when a new operator took on the popular business seven years ago, a series of old photos persuaded them to track down Richard and ask him to paint the 21-foot mural all over again.
At the same time as those works, Dawson was just as comfortable painting Trompe effects or 'pop art' or employing his extensive experience in creating scenic artwork to conjure up imaginative 3D works.
Property Bureau say that potential buyers "may wish to upgrade the home to a more modern style" - though art enthusiasts might equally appreciate the fascinating decor.
The home itself comprises a hallway, living room and kitchen, as well as three double bedrooms and a shower room.
Further benefits include gas central hearing and a large loft area for storage.
An independent home report has valued the property at £120,000 - while Property Bureau are seeking offers of more than £115,000 for what is one of the most remarkable and unusual homes you'll find not just in Rhu, or the wider Helensburgh area, but anywhere in the west of Scotland.
For more information and a full photographic tour, visit propertybureau.co.uk or call the estate agents on 01436 674537.
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