A funeral was held on Thursday at St Peter’s Catholic Parish Church in Morningside for artist and polymath John Byrne who died aged 83.

Byrne was known for his paintings and art, but equally well regarded for being a playwright and designer. His plays Tutti Frutti, Your Cheatin’ Heart and The Slab Boys Trilogy are firmly a part of Scottish theatre and TV history.

He designed album covers for Gerry Rafferty and stage outfits for Billy Connolly, and was the most stylish man in the room wherever he went.

He is survived by wife Jeanine Davis and four children.

Those attending included Scottish singer Barbara Dickson, OBE, actor Peter Capaldi and Phil Jupitus. Mourners went to the burial service in Dean Cemetery followed by a funeral tea at the National Gallery of Modern Art.

Funeral of John Byrne at St Peter’s Catholic Parish Church, Edinburgh Byrne’s wife Jeanine Davis and her daughter Rebecca PHOTO Alan Simpson
Funeral of John Byrne at St Peter’s Catholic Parish Church, Edinburgh PHOTO Alan Simpson
John Byrne at The Kings Theatre as his design on the auditorium domed ceiling was unveiled in August 2013. PHOTO Colin Hattersley
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.