One of my favourite London born musicians is Ronnie Wood – guitarist with the legendary band The Rolling Stones.
In my opinion Ronnie Wood is one of Britain’s most underrated rock guitarists – I’ve personally loved his work from his days with the Faces (just listen to his playing on their 1971 album “A nod’s as good as a wink to a blind horse” and you’ll see exactly what I mean) – and all the Stones albums, since he joined them in 1975 onwards.
But old Ronnie isn’t just a brilliant guitarist and musician – he is also an extremely talented artist.
Ronnie Wood was born in 1947 in Hillingdon west London, into a family of what were/are termed water ‘bargees’ (eg ‘boat-people’ who lived on London’s canals and rivers) In fact Ronnie was the first of his family to actually be born on dry land.
Anyway – from an early age Ronnie Wood was always interested in drawing and painting, in fact, as a child – his paintings were even presented on a BBC tv programme called ‘Sketch Club’, when he won one of the programmes competitions.
Upon leaving school, like a lot of other, later to be, credible musicians in the 60’s/70’s –Ronnie Wood went to art school, attended Ealing Art College in west London.
From his early days as a pro musician, firstly with the ‘Jeff Beck Group’ – then ‘The Faces’ (which became Rod Stewart & the Faces) – and now The Rolling Stones – Ronnie Wood has always managed to conduct his painting career alongside his music career.
During the Covid19 pandemic lockdowns, last year and this year to date – ‘live’ music has obviously been completely off the entertainment menu and so pro-musicians had the opportunity to get involved in other projects.
Ronnie Wood spent much of the lockdowns in his own studio in Hertfordshire, painting a series of new artworks, and adding them to his already extensive and impressive body of art work.
A few weeks ago – as part of the annual ‘Soho Music Festival’ – in the basement of a building in London’s famous Carnaby Street – a unique ‘pop-up’ gallery opened.
The gallery specifically exhibits Ronnie Wood’s art work presenting an incredible collection of limited-edition and original artworks and includes signed limited edition prints, all of which will be available to buy.
Carnaby Street (a Shoes’ topic in its own right, and on my ‘To Do List’) was deemed the ideal place for the Ronnie Wood Art Exhibition, because of its cultural and music history and with it being the birthplace of so called ‘Swinging London’ in the 1960’s. 
The gallery will display some of Ronnie’s most popular limited-edition prints, plus some new editions. The subject matter of the majority of these prints are of the Rolling Stones in action, plus there are a few dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, who was another Carnaby Street regular back in the 60s.
Also on display are a newly released painted collection of set-lists from the Rolling Stones European tours that Ronnie Wood creates in his dressing room before each gig when the Stones are touring.
The exhibition has prove to be so popular, that it has been extended to remain there until the end of August – it’s only a small gallery, but it’s well worth a visit if you’re in or around the Soho district of the west-end. 
So – having spent an enjoyable time admiring Ronnie Wood’s work – and having a mooch down the iconic Carnaby Street – I thought I would sneak in a ‘cheeky’ beer before heading off back home – and so I popped into the extremely popular “Argyll Arms” pub situated next to one of the Oxford Circus tube station exits – and just a few yards away from the iconic London Palladium theatre.
The Argyll Arms was originally built in 1742 and most of its interior fixtures such as ornate mirrors, wooden panelling, mosaic tiled flooring and chandeliers – are all from the pubs Victorian period, when it was well known for being one of London’s popular ‘Gin Palaces’ – and a very classy and atmospheric pub it is today too, for a quick cheeky one, if you ever find yourself in Soho.
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See below for the full gallery of photos accompanying this blog
Carnaby Street – as it is today. Once the centre of cultural and musical history when seen as the birthplace of the so called ‘Swinging London’ in the 1960’s.
Me – in Carnaby Street
The Carnaby Street building housing the Ronnie Wood art exhibition.
Entrance to the Ronnie Wood art exhibition in Carnaby Street
Ronnie Wood – the artist
Ronnie Wood – with his fellow Rolling Stones band members – l to r:- Charlie Watts – Keith Richards – Ronnie Wood – Mick Jagger
Also exhibited are a collection of painted set-lists from the Rolling Stones European tours – that Ronnie Wood created in his dressing room before each gig when the Stones were touring. This one is actually the set-list when they played Glastonbury in 2013
Me -inside the Ronnie Wood art exhibition – in Carnaby Street
Ronnie Wood’s excellent paintings of his fellow ‘Stones’ band members
Inside the Ronnie Wood art exhibition in Carnaby Street
Ronnie Wood’s painting of the cover of the classic Stones album ‘Beggars Banquet’ – recorded and released long before Ronnie Wood joined the band
Inside the Ronnie Wood pop-up exhibition in Carnaby Street-W1
Ronnie Wood’s brilliant paintings of his fellow ‘Stones’ band members
Ronnie Wood’s fantastic paintings of his fellow ‘Stones’ band members
Me – Inside the Ronnie Wood pop-up exhibition in Carnaby Street
Inside the Ronnie Wood pop-up exhibition in Carnaby Street-W1
Me – alongside Ronnie Wood’s “Wild Horses” painting – one of my fall time favourite Stones tracks.
A close look at Ronnie Wood’s “Wild Horses” painting
Carnaby Street as it looked in the 1960’s – when it was the centre of London’s ‘Swinging Sixties’ scene.
Carnaby Street as it is today – still a very popular tourist attraction …(when we actually had tourists here)
Ronnie Wood & Rod Stewart in action with their band The Faces – (in the early 70’s)
Carnaby Street – the epicenter of the London scene in the ‘Swinging Sixties’
The popular “Argyll Arms” pub – situated next to one of the Oxford Circus tube station exits – and just a few yards away from the iconic London Palladium theatre.
The Argyll Arms pub in Argyll Street – was originally built in 1742 and most of its interior fixtures such as ornate mirrors, wooden panelling, mosaic tiled flooring and chandeliers – are all from the pubs Victorian period
The ‘Argyll Arms’ was well known for being one of London’s popular Victorian ‘Gin Palaces’
Inside the ‘Argyll Arms’
Me – necking down a quick ‘cheeky’ one in the ‘Argyll Arms’ pub-Argyll Street-W1
Me – social distancing to the extreme on the train home from visiting Ronnie Wood’s art exhibition in Carnaby Street-W1
Fabulous informative blog and couldn’t agree more about his slightly underrated guitarery. Having dabbled in art myself I have found his paintings quite stunning too. Very personal insights into his world and experiences. Like sitting in to sessions in the early hours. Colourful vibrant and alive. Really enjoyable read LS
Cheers Neil-Boy – glad you enjoyed it mate 👍
Nice one Geoff.I didn`t know all these secrets about Ronnie Wood and his artwork,or,maybe not a secret to some who know him.Great talent and thanks again Geoff for all the info.
Cheers Robert – glad you enjoyed it
Not only a brilliant guitarist, but a great artist Geoff. Always been a big fan since I bought Rod’s Never A Dull Moment – the first album I bought. Faces were my second live gig (Bournemouth Dec 74) and it is still one of the best I’ve seen. Thanks for showing these paintings
Fantastic blog Geoff , another of my heroes . So talented and always that cheeky grin!
Ronnie, the new boy in the stones🤣🤣
Apparently he was the first in his family to be born on land as he came from a Bargee Family.
He is some artist 🎨