Johnny Depp has unveiled his £1,950 self portrait Five which he painted during one of the darkest times of his life.
The actor, 60, said the £1,950 painting is a reflecting of a ‘painful’ five years in which he was embroiled in a bitter legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard.
The former couple were locked in a courtroom battle on both sides of the Atlantic over six years after the actress, 37, alleged she was a victim of domestic violence during their 15-month marriage – something which Johnny vehemently denied.
In December last year, the actor’s lawyers said he was ‘pleased to close the door on this painful chapter’ after the former couple finally settled their defamation claims against each other.
On Thursday, Johnny proudly showed off his artwork which pays homage to a photograph taken for Christian Dior Parfums in 2015.
The photograph was used to announce Depp as the face of Dior Sauvage in a shoot led by French creative director Jean-Baptiste Mondino.
Johnny chose this particular image in honour of Dior and the loyalty they’ve always shown him.
Telling the story being the artwork, the actor said: ‘I did this at Ralph Steadman’s in his studio in around 2021.
‘This self portrait. It was created at the time that was, let’s say a bit dark, bit confusing.
‘I looked at it and I don’t know why. I thought it needed something else it needed further information.
‘When I felt the need to write the basically the counting down of the years.
‘Essentially I just wrote Five on there because I was just about to enter into the fifth year of the madness.
‘The reference art is a photoshoot from Dior. That whole time as much as it was painful, Dior stuck to their guns and that was incredible.
‘If you can read in the eyes something that can effect you.’
Johnny said he would spend time sitting in a mirror and drawing himself, experimenting with different lighting and angles.
In December, lawyers for Depp, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, said the actor is glad the ‘painful chapter’ is over after they thrashed out a deal which will see Heard’s insurance company pay Depp $1million.
In a statement to the news they said: ‘We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was about bringing the truth to light.
‘The jury’s unanimous decision and the resulting judgment in Mr Depp’s favour against Ms Heard remain fully in place.
‘The payment of one million dollars – which Mr Depp is pledging and will donate to charities – reinforces Ms Heard’s acknowledgement of the conclusion of the legal system’s rigorous pursuit for justice.’
But, in an important victory for Heard, there are no restrictions about what she can talk about in regard to the case and she has accepted no guilt.
A courtroom in London found in her favour, but a second case in Fairfax, Virginia, this year came out on Depp’s side.
The actress was ordered to pay $10million in compensatory damages and $5million (later reduced to $365,000) in punitive damages following the six-week case, while Depp was told to give her $2million by the same courtroom after Heard countersued for defamation.
The pair’s legal teams have been locked in discussions to avoid the pain of a bruising third trial after Heard filed an appeal, before a deal was finally made.
‘Amber is now looking forward to moving on with her life as she planned to do six years ago,’ a source close to the actress told MailOnline.
‘She wants to put this unfortunate episode behind her and turn to what she loves in life: her career, her family and her causes.’
The limited edition artwork goes on sale on Thursday for 13 days and will be available to buy online and in nationwide UK galleries at Castle Fine Art.
