AN exhibition of previously unpublished pictures by internationally-renowned photographer Mick McCartney opened its doors in Oxton Village on Thursday evening.

The striking images are from Mike's extensive collection of A-list music stars.

Among them are U2 frontman Bono reading his script by torchlight in the wings at the Brit awards; an intimate picture of an exhausted-looking Sandie Shaw; Godfather of Soul James Brown, the image captured in late-2006 at one the last concerts before his death in December of that year; an intense portrait of Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, and Little Richard obviously singing his heart out while jumping on a grand piano!

Sales of prints of some of the photographs on the opening night have raised more than £1,200 for Mike's chosen charity, Claire House Hospice.

The exhibition is in the unusual setting of The Inkwell Tattoo Studio and Gallery in Christchurch Road, where Max McCartney, Mike's 26-year-old son, is employed as a tattoo artist.

McCartney Snr found fame in the 1960s and 70s when, using the stage name "Mike McGear," his band The Scaffold scaled the pop charts. 

Nowadays he is perhaps more accustomed to showing his photographic studies at prestigious institutions such as the Washington Smithsonian and the National Portrait Gallery.

But he said: "The idea for the Oxton show began when Max saw some of the pictures in our house and said they would be perfect for an exhibition at the Inkwell.

"It's unlike any other tattoo studio you're ever likely to come across, and its gallery area makes the perfect venue for a small, intimate showing such as this.

"I'm really pleased with the way the exhibition looks. Setting it all up and organising everything has been a bit of a monumental task, but it's been worth it."

The exhibition is the precursor to a national one-man show Mike will be touring around 30 venues in April and May of next year.

The pictures will be on display at the Inkwell for the next two weeks.