By Mike Merritt

FOUR years ago, he was begging on the streets of Scotland and stealing to feed his drug habit. Today, however, Frank McFadden is a being hailed as a world-class painter with a coterie of beautiful superstar muses including Jessica Simpson and Debbie Harry.

As a homeless heroin addict, the 39-year-old trawled the streets of Glasgow trying to find the money to fend off withdrawal symptoms. So it's little surprise that the city has inspired some of McFadden's less glamorous, but more socially biting, works.

His latest painting, entitled Windae Hingin depicts the kind of street gossips McFadden came across among the city's tenements. The canvas, with a sizeable £2500 price tag for a new artist, is now on display in Some City Glasgow at the Art In The City Gallery in Glasgow.

McFadden, described in the art world as the best artist to come out of Scotland in a decade, has just been approached to paint Debbie Harry, lead singer with Blondie.

He's also sealed a commission with Jessica Simpson, the all-American beauty who starred in movies like The Dukes of Hazzard.

Britain's much-loved comedy actress Dawn French has also hired McFadden to paint for her.

McFadden says his life was turned around by two things: fatherhood, and a chance encounter with Peter Howson, one of Scotland's most acclaimed artists.

He and Howson now share a studio in Glasgow. Like McFadden, Howson famously struggled with his own drink and drug demons. The two share a close affinity.

McFadden's descent into drug abuse began nearly 25 years ago, when he began experimenting with drugs for the first time. "I started smoking dope when I was 15 and by 20 I was on smack," he said. "I progressed to heroin.

"I was on heroin for over 14 years before going on to a methadone programme, which I came off last year and have been clean since.

"At my worst I lost jobs, was homeless and begged. But big Peter gave me a chance and now I think my work has reached a new high a natural one.

"The things that changed my life have been my daughter Frankie - who is 14 - who I adore and want to be a good dad to, and Peter Howson.

"I was not much of a father being a junkie and Peter helped me believe that I had a future. I owe him everything.

"I am taking all these plaudits and fame with a pinch of salt. I am just happy to be alive. I should have been dead by now. I was spending £40 a day on heroin and begging and borrowing to feed my habit."

McFadden's life started to spiral out of control and he drifted into an underworld of addiction, crime and homelessness.

He tried to get his life back on track by applying for jobs but was fired twice from the same company due to his heroin habit. "I was sacked for late time-keeping," said McFadden.

That turned out to be one of McFadden's many lucky breaks. The firm that fired him was the Forrest Group in Glasgow where McFadden had worked as a sign-writer.

After meeting Howson McFadden found himself with the opportunity to put on his first exhibition, appropriately named Zero Tolerance, depicting the affects of substance abuse.

Risking humiliation, McFadden called on his old bosses who agreed to pay £3500 to sponsor the exhibition.

McFadden met Howson in a Glasgow cafe and later plucked up the courage to show him his work.

Howson said of his protege: "I think he could be one of the great British artists but it will take another five to 10 years.

"He needs to continue to work hard and fight the weaknesses I had. In that sense I see myself in him but artistically we are different. I see a lot of the German expressionists and Picasso in Frank's work."

Jessica Simpson became a fan of McFadden's after she met him at a party for New York's glitterati. She admired his jeans adorned with his own designs and the pair got talking.

"She has asked me to do something for her," said McFadden. "I gave her my sketch book and she chose a twisted study of a male nude."

Of Windae Hingin, McFadden says: "It is about street gossips the kind of people you find hanging around corners and out of windows in Glasgow. It is my take on a part of Glasgow life.

"My best is yet to come. But certainly the worst is behind me."

Art in The City's June show in Howard Street runs until June 30