Sex Pistols artwork made in Aberdeen returns for new exhibition

The first ever artwork for the Sex Pistols created in Aberdeen has returned to the city for a new exhibition.

The sound and rebellious look of the band influenced a generation with their controversial album designs.

Jamie Reid was the pioneering artist behind the iconic covers for releases such as God Save the Queen and Anarchy in the UK.

His radical art for the famous group became one of the defining images of the punk movement in the 1970s and is instantly recognisable to this day.

But lesser known is Aberdeen’s role in the band’s look.

David McCracken is print curator at the Peacock Print Makers in Aberdeen.

Anarchy in the U.K: Sex Pistols' debut single in 1976 — Anarchy in the U.K: Sex Pistols’ debut single in 1976 STV News

He explained: “Jamie would come from the Isle of Lewis after receiving a telegram from Malcolm McLaren, who he had been at art college with him.

“Malcolm asked him to come back to London and make the artwork for his new band called the Sex Pistols. He came to Aberdeen, popped in here and made a print, rolled it up, then off to London.”

The print is very rare, with only one other thought to exist worldwide.

There were various attempts at tracking down the blue flyer featuring the band’s name and a guitarist’s image, with no success.

So Peacock, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, recreated the poster for its retrospective exhibition of Jimmie Reid’s work.

Artist Jamie Reid lived on the Isle of Lewis for a period in the mid-1970s STV News

But quite remarkably, just days before the exhibition opened, the original piece made at the Aberdeen workshop resurfaced.

It’s now centre stage in the new show, which features other material from the artist’s career.

“A gentleman got in touch from Dundee. He’d seen the media around the story, and he got in touch to say he had a poster.

“He’d bought it from Jamie in 1986. It was delivered to the gallery only last week and was unveiled in what was a very emotional moment. The print came home.

“It was a very lovely moment for everyone in the room. It was quite overwhelming that the original print resurfaced for the exhibition,” added David.

Peacock is proud to be part of its newly discovered punk rock history.

The gallery hopes the exhibition gives people a broader sense of what Jamie was as an artist.

“Culturally, this is the most important print ever made at Peacocks ever made in Aberdeen, ever made in Scotland perhaps,” said David.

David says it’s extraordinary that Reid’s story has such a strong Aberdeen connection, and he says Jamie, who died in August 2023 aged 76, would have loved the exhibition.

New versions of his print are selling out fast, helping the open-access workshop to continue to operate.

“It’s continuing to make money for this open access model that still runs today – the way that Jimmy Reid found in 1976 in the Castlegate in Aberdeen.”

The Eternal Ecstasy exhibition runs until December 6.