Ross County FC coincidence forges artistic hook-up that’s a hit with public

A REMARKABLE coincidence with an unlikely Ross-shire connection triggered a poignant artistic collaboration which has taken an iconic venue by storm.

The hook-up between Ross County Football Club’s supporter liaison officer (SLO) Kenny MacLennan and Liverpool visual artist Steve Randall has now sparked a search for the perfect venue to showcase the poignant exhibition in Scotland.

MacLennan, a musician who goes by the name WESTHEART, first encountered Randall by chance when he stumbled across his ethereal image, Accentuate The Positive, inspired by the environment not far from Kenny’s home.

The musician saw the image online and asked Steve if he could use it for an album cover. After hearing how well the music sat with his work, Steve wondered if he and Kenny could collaborate on something bigger together.

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After their chance online meeting, Steve and Kenny realised they already had another connection - Ross County FC. As well as Kenny being the club’s SLO, Steve’s son Connor is the club captain.

That amazing coincidence cemented their bond and has made them more determined to take the Transitions Exhibition to a venue closer to Kenny’s home.

That follows the success of its showcase at Liverpool’s iconic Royal Liver Building.

For a long time Steve was part of the corporate world but that all changed when his wife Canan was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.

The couple headed to Spain to take stock of the situation and during that trip Steve would paint to relax and his wife joked that she’d always wanted to be married to an artist. Steve decided to make that dream a reality.

2025 marks a decade since his wife’s first operation. In that time, Steve has exhibited in various places.

He has also raised over £43,000 for charities through his various arts initiatives and is currently raising money via a prize draw for The Walton Centre and Claire House Hospice.

The exhibition has been curated by Laura McCann in a loosely autobiographical way, whilst also showcasing how Steve’s painting style has evolved in recent years.

There’s also been a notable section of Scottish tourists who’ve recognised the nature-based paintings as being inspired by the Highlands, with many asking if there’s a plan to bring the show North of the border.

Reflecting on playing live at the exhibition’s launch evening in Liverpool, Kenny said: “Obviously I’d seen pictures of the venue but as you drive towards it and realise you’re playing probably the most recognisable landmark in the region, it’s quite a moment.”

The exhibition has attracted thousands of visitors who have marvelled at being able to listen to Kenny’s music playing throughout or have held a more personal experience by scanning a QR code and listening to each specially composed track on their headphones.

Dingwall-based company DP Digital Media have added another layer to the event by producing a video combining Steve’s visual’s with Kenny’s soundtrack.

Laura McCann said: “We knew this was going to be a very special exhibition but I don’t think any of us predicted just how much people would connect with it.

“The combination of audio and visual has accentuated everything and we’re regularly seeing people in tears because it resonates so strongly with them. None of us want the experience to end and we all feel the next venue really should be in Scotland”.

Speaking about the feelings the exhibition has sparked, Laura said of the lynchpin work, Accentuate the Positive: “Weirdly enough a lady has literally just this second come up to me at the exhibition and said that this very painting really moved her. She's just turned 80 and said from now on she's going to adopt that as her motto for life.

It’s one of many lovely comments Steve's work gets, such an inspiring project to be a part of.”

The exhibition will now continue in Liverpool weekdays until April 11 but the trio are already looking at Scottish venues and Laura says she’s keen to look at unusual iconic spaces, so nothing is off limits.

Connor said of his dad's work: "I managed to travel to Liverpool to see my dad's exhibition. The sheer scale and quality of the work is really impressive. I'm very proud of how my dad and Canan have created this new life to deal with such a terrible situation.

“I thought the whole production along with Kenny’s music told an emotional story and I'd love to see the project travel to Scotland so I can get to see it again".

Anyone interested should contact Laura via lauramccannphotos.com

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