PAINTINGS by Port Seton artist John Bellany are among a private collection belonging to David Bowie that are expected to raise up to £10 million at auction.

Bowie, who died in January this year, was an avid collector of art and included the late Mr Bellany’s work among some of his favourite pieces, with more than a dozen original works in his collection.

The artwork is due to go under the hammer at Sothebys in London later this year, when nearly 400 items are due to be sold in a series of auctions.

Mr Bellany struck up a friendship with Bowie that saw the musical legend visit his home on a number of occasions.

Mr Bellany once said: “He comes to Port Seton a lot. One time he was staying at the Caley [Caledonian] Hotel in Edinburgh and he came to our flat for dinner.

“I asked him, ‘Well, David, what have you been up to today?’ “He said: ‘I’ve been down to Port Seton again and talk about co-incidence!

“‘Right next door to your old house is one called Dar es Salaam.

“‘The funny thing is I’ve just fallen in love with a girl from Dar es Salaam and you’ll meet her next time I’m here.’ “This, of course, was Iman [Bowie’s supermodel wife].”

Mr Bellany, who died in 2013, even painted a portrait of the singer that was simply called David Bowie.

Among the paintings that were reported to have been owned by the singer was a 1965 work called Fishermen in the Snow, which Mr Bellany himself listed in his top 10 favourite pieces.

Damien Hirst is another famous collector of John Bellany’s work.