Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Gerald Laing grew up during the Second World War and experienced the Battle of Britain first-hand as a young boy. Subsequently, he enrolled with the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and served with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers as a Lieutenant in Ireland and Germany. Upon leaving the Army, Laing began his artistic training at St Martin’s School of Art in London. Whilst still a student, the artist was introduced to notable New York artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Jim Rosenquist. Such acquaintances prompted Laing to relocate to New York following graduation where his artistic career flourished. Laing, like his contemporaries, favoured the Pop Art movement. His portraits, painted using bold colours, often depicted celebrities of contemporary culture such as Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Amy Winehouse. The artist also produced sculptures of figures such as Paul Getty II and Sir Charles Fraser.