A LIVE painting of Khabib Nurmagomedov by Newbridge artist Pat Killian sold for £16,000 – with the funds going to support disadvantaged people and provide emergency relief.

Mr Killian was painting as part of the charity SKT Welfare’s fundraising event – Khabib Nurmagomedov - The Legacy Continues – in London on October 2.

The event was one of the first live paintings Mr Killian has done since the onset of the pandemic, and came about while he was working with Sparbar painting boxing legend Roy Jones Jnr onstage at the Arnold Sports Festival at the NEC in Birmingham.

READ MORE:

“It was really nice to be back doing something and out there painting live again,” he said. “I’ve met Roy a few times and he loved the piece and signed it.

“Khabib was over here as part of [the Arnold Sports Festival], and I got a call asking if I could do a live piece at Indigo at the O2 in London.

South Wales Argus: Pat Killian and Roy Jones Jnr after he painted him on stage at the NEC in Birmingham. Picture: Pat Killian.Pat Killian and Roy Jones Jnr after he painted him on stage at the NEC in Birmingham. Picture: Pat Killian.

“That was great. I was live on stage. And I got to meet Khabib backstage.

“The painting I did live [of Khabib] went for £16,000. Another of the pieces is going to be used on the cover of Fighters Only magazine. I then drove back to Birmingham and painted on stage at the NEC.

“It was a great weekend for me.”

South Wales Argus: Pat Killian with Khabib Nurmagomedov at the SKT Welfare fundraising event. Picture: Pat Killian.Pat Killian with Khabib Nurmagomedov at the SKT Welfare fundraising event. Picture: Pat Killian.

 

Mr Killian also painted a piece ahead of the heavyweight title fight which Tyson Fury knockout Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas – although he wasn’t able to go out to the States to exhibit it.  

The ongoing travel restrictions have prevented Mr Killian from getting out to exhibit his work around the globe, but he said he is hoping to by the end of the year.

“At the moment you still can’t travel. I would like to in December,” he said. “I was very disappointed I could not go to the Atlantic City Hall of Fame – I should’ve been presenting the paintings there.

“That was disappointing for me.”