5 European musicians you probably didn't know are also avid painters

Everything started with doodles for his fans. He would draw little figures wearing hats on cards he autographed. The "Udograms" ultimately sparked a true passion for painting in the singer who, starting in the 90s, created entire painting series. Particularly notable are the so-called "Likörelle" (Little Liqueurs), which were painted using egg liqueur, Blue Curacao, grenandine, or whiskey.

Before he started in music, Ron Wood took lessons at an art school in London. But even as Rolling Stones guitarist, he remained true to his passion. Music is actually the most central motif in his paintings, with many of his artworks consisting of portraits of musician friends. Some of his paintings sell for as much as 800,000 euros, and even the art prints go for several thousand euros each.

"I had to break through a mental block in order to paint," Paul McCartney once wrote in the foreword to one of his exhibition catalogues. Only at the age of 41 did he have enough confidence to step up to the canvas. Even so, he kept his works hidden from the public eye. He did not allow his expressionistic artworks to go on show until he was 56.

Ringo Starr's interest in art was mainly fueled by boredom. The former Beatles drummer used to play around with a drawing program on his computer when he was on tour. The results were admittedly child-like, though they sold very well and continue to do so. Perhaps it's because Ringo Starr doesn't take himself so seriously as an artist.

Hardly anyone is as hustling and bustling as U2's Bono. Not only is he a singer, songwriter, guitarist and activist, he's also a painter. In 2003, he illustrated the music fairy tale "Peter and the Wolf" with his daughters, Jordan and Eve. The drawings went for 280,000 euros at auction, with the proceeds naturally going to a charity.