IT was a chance meeting that lead to a new work of art... and £25,000 for Glasgow's sick kids hospitals.

Following the Oor Wullie BIG Bucket Trail, which saw artists create new versions of the famous Scottish character, one of the creations has sold for the impressive sum.

Metal Oor Wullie, the creation of sculptor Jason Paterson, was snapped up at auction by Lady Clark.

But it may never have come into being had Jason not bumped into a friend who works at Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity.

Jason said: "During a Sunday afternoon trip to Buchanan Galleries with my wife and daughter back in early January 2019 we bumped into Julie Price, my wife's friend from the charity.

"We all got speaking and after I heard about the charity and what it does, and after a ten minute chat about The Oor Wullie BIG Bucket Trail, my decision to make a sculpture was automatic as I thought I could make something that would actually make a difference.

READ MORE: Jason Paterson takes on Metal Oor Wullie

"I got home that night and thought 'Help ma boab, I have just set myself a huge challenge'."

Jason was the only artist to create his Oor Wullie from scratch, cutting out more than 1200 pieces of 6mm steel, 250 Bucket Trail stencils and more than 450 Oor Wullie stencils.

He then welded them together to create the famous scene of the wee boy sitting on a tin bucket.

Jason added: "After eight weeks of burning the tips of my fingers a few times and dropping the hammer on my foot now and again it happened - Metal Oor Wullie was here."

The steel creation went on display with two other Oor Wullies in George Square as part of a Scotland-wide fundraiser for Glasgow children's hospital, Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity and The ARCHIE Foundation.

Dozens of the artworks went under the hammer to raise cash with Lady Clark, of car dealership Arnold Clark, submitting the winning bid for Metal Oor Wullie.

Lady Clark said: "Jason is one of Glasgow’s most iconic designers, and I’m delighted to have been the winning bidder on his wonderful sculpture at the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail auction.

"Not only did this unique event celebrate the imagination of Scotland’s artists, but it also helped raise vital funds for children’s hospital charities."

More than 200 sculptures made up the Oor Wullie BIG Bucket Trail and became popular sights in locations across towns and cities over the summer.

Shona Cardle, Chief Executive at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: "The response from Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail has been phenomenal and it was a joy to see the sculptures together again at our charity auction in the iconic surroundings of Kelvingrove Art Galleries.

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"Jason Paterson’s work is synonymous with Glasgow and we’re delighted that he played such an important role in Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail, as the creator of ‘Metal Oor Wullie’.

"We know that passers-by in George Square will miss seeing Metal Oor Wullie on their travels but thanks to the incredible generosity of our winning bidder, Lady Clark, donations from the sale of Metal Oor Wullie will help to make a vital difference for the babies, children and young people at Scotland’s busiest children’s hospital."

Metal Oor Wullie will be installed permanently in a new home.

Jason added: "I would like to thank Ryan Stewart of Precision Metals for all the laser cut stencils and also Jamie Ballantine of Lights 2 for the LED Lighting that allowed Metal Oor Wullie to glow at night in George Square.

"I want to say a special thank you to Lady Clark who bought Metal Oor Wullie.

"I was at the auction that night and was totally over whelmed with the reaction to her bid of 25,000 as was the full auction room.

"To all the other artists who painted their own Oor Wullies - each one was amazing in their own way and it's good to see that Scotland still has some of the best artists in the world."