Artist Stella Vine, who won fame when Charles Saatchi bought her portrait of Princess Diana, is holding her first London exhibition for eight years featuring new works.
Vine, 44, said she was “immensely grateful” to Mr Saatchi, who spent £600 in 2004 on the work, Hi Paul Can You Come Over I’m Really Frightened. She added: “If you get a break, some kind of platform in art, it’s life-changing,” But it came at a price, she said, leading to revelations about her past as a stripper and allegations of poor taste over a depiction of young drugs victim Rachel Whitear. Vine said she still earns a living from her paintings adding: “A Russian guy in Geneva bought about five pieces this year for about £2,000 each.”
Melting Into You, featuring new images of Princess Diana and Cara Delevingne, is at Cecil Sharp House, Primrose Hill, on Saturday.
