Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood was born in Middlesex, England, into a musical and artistic family. Before beginning his musical career he received formal art training at Ealing College of Art, London. He grew up surrounded by his two later passions - music and art. Dad Arthur was an amateur musician and older brothers Art and Ted went to art school.

It was Ted who gave the future Stone his first professional gig in 1957 - playing washboard in his Original London Skiffle Group at the Regal cinema in Uxbridge. Signing up at Ealing School of Art in 1963, Ronnie started his first band - The Thunderbirds, later shortened to The Birds - with school friend Tony Monroe. The Birds built a following through live gigs, but they never made much money and Ronnie moved on.

After a brief spell with The Creation - an influential pop art band with a massive following in Europe, Ronnie joined The Jeff Beck group in 1968, where he met Rod Stewart. In late 1968, Ronnie moeved on with Rod to form The Faces.

Ronnie first saw the Stones at the Richmond Jazz Festival back in 1964. As he was going inside, he saw a van open up and the five of them tumbled out of the back. "I knew I belonged in that band" he says, "I've always been a believer in fate. I counted on it happening... I just had to wait it out."

By 1975 Mick Taylor wanted to leave and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were looking for a replacement. Ronnie flew to Munich to audition. He got the job and despite more recent jibes about their ages, Ronnie thinks he and the Stones have only improved over the years.

As his musical career has progresses Ronnie has continued his passion for painting and drawing. His subjects range from immediate colleagues in the band, to other famous rock and roll musicians he has admired, known and has sometimes played with. Family, friends, animals and of course the self-portraits perhaps show a more private side.

Ronnie in the Studio