AN artist from Wimborne got the job of his dreams when superstar singer Robbie Williams rang to ask if he would create a special painting for his Los Angeles home.
Matt Donovan, 39, a former pupil at Queen Elizabeth's School, spent 12 months working on a project to recreate John Constable's famous painting, The Haywain, for Williams and has flown to Amsterdam to meet up with him after a concert.
Mr Donovan said: "I have done all sorts of jobs in my time but this was the biggest. He is really nice, the persona he gives off in public is very different from in private.
"He was really polite and generous and he has said he loves the painting, which is fantastic. To have work hung in the home of such a world famous star is a huge honour."
Mr Donovan got the job after his brother, Jamie, who lives in LA and plays in Williams' own football team, LA Vale FC, told the singer about his work.
He said Williams had wanted to get a copy of The Haywain because it was a favourite of his late grandmother and reminded him of a print she had in her home.
Now the painting has been safely shipped over to the US Mr Donovan, a self-employed artist and designer who still lives in Wimborne, is concentrating on his next project, a 72-foot cloth backdrop for a Broadstone ballet school.
The backdrop will be used in a performance of the Murilova Ballet School's performance of Pinocchio, the proceeds of which will go to the Poole link of the charity Chernobyl Children's Lifeline.
The performances are at the Layard Theatre at Canford School on July 20 and 21 and tickets are available by calling 01202 434700.
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