Ronnie Wood's art therapy

19 October 2020

Ronnie Wood’s art is his “therapy”.

Ronnie Wood

The Rolling Stones guitarist is also an accomplished painter and when inspiration strikes, he feels “possessed” and is able to get “lost” in his work.

He said: “I can only work when I am inspired. Sometimes I have musical periods, other times I don’t do anything but paint. I become possessed.

“That can take up most of the hours of the day. I will get lost in there. Art is something I have to do, but also therapy.”

And the coronavirus pandemic has proved beneficial for the 73-year-old star and his art.

He added: “Luckily social distancing is a godsend for an artist. I can work peacefully and quite profusely.”

Ronnie often paints musicians who have inspired him, including his bandmate Sir Mick Jagger, who he finds to be a “challenge” to capture in the moment.

He said: “He is so animated. He is like a gust of wind going by on stage. It is a challenge to try and capture him in one still frame.”

As well as art and music, Ronnie – who has been sober since 2010 – likes to relax with meditation and knitting, as well as watching TV murder mysteries.

He told The Times' Homes magazine: “Country walks are my daily exercise. And I live on murder mysteries. I am watching a whole series of interconnected Scandinavian ones at the moment. I love the continental flavour — it all started with Spiral, a French one. It is a continued adventure through Netflix and All4.”