KELTY artist Celie Byrne has enrolled a new vending machine project called ‘Artobotic’ – which dispenses affordable work by artists at all levels, including the likes of David Mach and Celie’s father, polymath John Byrne – for a unique show this month.

Celie was recently commissioned by St Andrews folk hero, Rab Noakes, to create the artwork for his landmark 20th album, Welcome to Anniversaryville, which will be launched at Lochgelly Centre on Wednesday August 29, during which some of her other paintings will be exhibited. Artobotic will also be unveiled in the venue. Devised by Edinburgh artist, Denny Hunter, Artobotic offers unique artwork for a £10 fee. The gimmick, however, is that the machine’s selection is a lucky dip.

Explaining the roots of the project, Denny said: “Artobotic was a happy accident. I was thinking of ways that I could get my own artwork out there and had the idea that I could buy a vending machine and sell ‘glorified business cards’ for a pound or two from the machine.

“I quickly realised that I couldn’t just sell my own artwork from the machines so I got on the blower and asked some of my artist friends if they would like to get involved by contributing small artworks. "We could get the public interested in art by inviting them to play a game, a bit like roulette, they insert £10 into the machine and pull the drawer to receive a box with an artwork inside. To make this more compelling I started to contact famous artists to ask them if they would get involved and to my astonishment they were up for it because they liked the idea of democratising art in this way.

He added: “Artobotic has been such a rollercoaster ride since its inception in 2016 and we’ve had some incredible artists including John Byrne, David Mach RA, Kirsty Whiten, Celie Byrne, Peter Randall-Page RA, KennardPhillipps, and this year we have some little ditties by Jake & Dinos Chapman."

He also said another surprise was Celie Byrne.

Beyond Celie and Methil artist David Mach, Artobotic has also had work from poet and comedian Phill Jupitus, who now hails from Pittenweem. On the night of the launch, the machine will be populated with work from the likes of Jupitus and Kelty Street Art Collective, with whom Celie has been working on an ambitious renewal project for local shop frontage.

Celie said: “Now that Phill's a Fifer we thought it our civic duty to welcome him in to the fold.

"Lochgelly Centre couldn't be a more suitable locale for the Artobotic vending machine. It’s a thriving hub of activity with art, theatre and cinema.

"It’s full of kids and the community use the space for all sorts of stuff, including a visit to the library there. Instead of coughing up £10 for some cheap manufactured plastic toy, your hard earned tenner will get you an original work of art.”