Controversial Glasgow mural ‘will have nothing to do with AI’

The businessman behind a controversial mural planned for a Glasgow street has said artificial intelligence will have nothing to do with the finished design.

Glasgow City Council approved a proposal from Derek Paterson to create the mural on a wall in the city’s Elmbank Street.

However a suggested design, which Paterson says will represent Scotland’s heritage, was mocked and criticised online for its usage of AI. This included having a bald eagle in the image – a bird not native to Scotland.

Paterson told BBC Scotland News the image was an indicative drawing rather than a finished design, and an artist would have free reign on the mural.

He added that he had received considerable abuse online for the proposal, and that the local artist hired had several pieces of work already displayed in the city.

The design features Highland cows, a stag, a steam train, a worker wearing a flat cap and a building that appears to be based around the Wallace Monument in Stirling.

It was slated on social media for being twee, for the train seemingly floating in the air and for use of the eagle – speculated by some to be an AI attempt at a sea eagle.

Paterson said: “From the outset I have stressed to the artist that he has a blank canvas to work on and I will merely provide the theme.

“I’m attempting to convey a story which celebrates Glasgow’s rich industrial heritage whilst tipping a hat to the city’s industrial future.

“I can’t stress enough that AI will have nothing to do with the mural. It was merely an indicative drawing attempting to convey an idea on which the mural will be loosely based, but the artist will have licence to let his creative juices flow, within reason and subject to the council’s guidelines.”

He insisted that the online vitriol had been caused by people jumping to conclusions based on the initial image.

The planning application said the intention was to create something that celebrated “Scotland’s rich energy heritage and its ongoing commitment to renewable, sustainable energy sources”.

Glasgow City Council guidelines mean the design must be made based purely on planning guidelines, rather than judging the design in any way.

Usage of AI in art has been a growing concern for many artists in recent years.

In 2024, Black Isle-based pop artist Michael Forbes told BBC Scotland News he was painting over some of his artwork in protest at the influence of AI in art.

He said some artists were giving up their careers because they felt they could no longer compete against computer-generated images.