Flynn Talbot has decided it’s time to change things about his life; things that have made him unhappy and regretful for a long time. He has also decided, at the age of seventy-nine, to reveal that he is Chandler, the mysterious and elusive street artist who, for the best part of fifty years, has been painting his dramatic and thought-provoking work on bus stops, brick walls, and derelict buildings.

Billed as “The Scottish Banksy”, Talbot has been making social commentary an artform, using his platform to get people to stop and think. “Art is not exclusive to the rich and privileged,” he says. “At least, it shouldn’t be. It is there to be enjoyed by everyone and that’s why I decided to adopt my alter ego of Chandler and put it out there.”

Speaking from his gorgeous home, Merry Wood, with his partner, Lily Cruickshank, by his side, Talbot explains that it was the discovery of a letter that he wrote to his long-lost love in 1973 which was the catalyst for his decision to go public with not just his Chandler persona, but also with details of the abusive marriage which has haunted him for the past forty years.

“I would never admit it at the time,” confesses the still dashing Flynn Talbot, “but I was being physically and mentally abused by my then wife.”

The wife Talbot refers to is willowy former fashion model and fevered charity campaigner Astrid Talbot.

“She would go into these awful rages and I would blame myself. I thought I was behaving in such a way or saying something that would either bring on or fan the flames of her anger. I know now that isn’t true.”

Confused and embarrassed, Flynn Talbot put up with the abuse inflicted upon him by his now ex-wife. “She was offered an opportunity to work for a charity in Africa,” he explains. “I thought our marriage could still be saved, and she would turn a corner.” He adds ruefully, “I had my then eight-year-old son to think of too.”

Talbot says things improved in Africa for a time, before Astrid reverted back to her old ways. In the meantime, Flynn admits he fell in love with Lily Cruickshank, the flame-haired beauty who lived in a cottage just across the woods from him.

“But it was all a mess, thanks to our respective partners,” chimes in Lily, clutching Flynn’s hand. “My late husband discovered our feelings for one another and made sure Flynn never returned to Merry Wood or to me.”

Goddess approached Astrid Talbot for comment in Spain, where she now resides, but Ms Talbot declined to comment on these allegations…