Nunn laughs off 'fake' art claim

Sir Trevor is said to have been told at the National Theatre in London

Theatre director Sir Trevor Nunn has laughed off a claim he spent £27,000 on a Damien Hirst painting which was actually the work of two children.

The autobiography of actor Keith Allen said that Sir Trevor "went off looking white" when he learned the real artists were Allen's son and Hirst's son.

He alleged it happened at an event marking the opening of a play in 1997.

But Sir Trevor said it was "a very good actor's yarn", adding he had later made a £20,000 profit on the painting.

But how Keith or Damien Hirst could work out which one my untitled painting was is beyond me Sir Trevor Nunn

Allen's book recalled a conversation in which Sir Trevor told Hirst that he had one of the artist's "spin paintings".

Hirst asked how much he had paid for it, to which the reply was "27 grand".

Allen said that Hirst then stated: "Oh right. Well, that one was done by Keith's son Alfie and my son Connor."

"Trevor smiled loosely and went off looking white," wrote Allen. "A funny joke - you say. The funny joke was that it was absolutely true."

'No conversation'

Sir Trevor said in a statement that he "vaguely" remembered being introduced to Hirst once.

Keith Allen said his son Alfie and Hirst's son Connor were the artists

"But there was certainly no conversation about who had painted any picture, so in reality that bit must have happened later," he added.

"I don't have a problem with the story because I sold the painting privately a few years later for £20,000 more than it cost.

"But how Keith or Damien Hirst could work out which one my untitled painting was is beyond me.

"I put it on the wall in the kids' playroom, but when they got older, there was no need to keep it."

Neither Hirst nor Allen was available for comment.