A tattoo artist who has been creating portraits of Newcastle United players was stunned when Bruno Guimarães asked for his painting.
Biffa Sutherland has been producing pencil drawings and paintings of Toon footballers in his spare time. The 34-year-old Newcastle fan has so far created pictures of Bruno, Kieran Trippier, Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin.
He couldn't believe it when Bruno's agent got in touch and told him that the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder loved his painting and wanted one.
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Biffa met Bruno at the NUFC training ground in Benton, Newcastle, on Thursday and handed the painting over to him in person. He said the number 39 plans to send him a signed Newcastle top.
The dad-of-two said: "About three weeks ago, Bruno's agent messaged me saying 'Bruno loves the painting' and 'is there any chance of doing one for him?' I couldn't believe it.
"When he messaged me out of the blue I thought this is brilliant. I was absolutely chuffed to bits. You spend all these hours doing stuff and you think they are never going to see it.
"I said 'Absolutely, I could do another one or do you like the one I have already done?' He said he liked the one I had already done. He asked me if I could give him it in person.
"I went up with my dad to the training ground and he met us there. He wasn't training but he came in especially. He came over and we had a chat with him. We got pictures and he was happy to sign stuff.
"He was brilliant, he was so welcoming and friendly. He's really down to earth, he's a lovely man."
Biffa began creating pencil drawings and paintings of Newcastle players to say thank you for everything they have done following the club takeover in October 2021. He completed the painting of Bruno in November last year.
Biffa, who lives in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, said: "After the takeover, I started doing portraits of the players to thank them for everything they have done for our club. I never thought I would get it to them.
"Knowing that one of my pictures is in their house, hanging up on the wall, that's worth more to me than selling it.
"Just meeting him was what I wanted. I didn't want anything off him for it, just the fact that he's got it was enough for me. I thanked him and wrote a little note on the back of it.
"I have just done one of Trippier and I gave it to Bruno to give to him. I took two more to the stadium the last time I was there - Maxi and Joelinton.
"I enjoy painting and drawing and if I wasn't doing it for them I'd be doing something else."
Biffa said the pencil drawings usually take him around 10 to 15 hours to complete and the painting take around 15 to 20 hours.
He said: "I think Bruno is the biggest one I have done, it did take a while.
"Now it's a case of on to the next one. If they can all receive one that would be class. It will probably take me a couple of years!"
Biffa, who runs a tattoo studio at Crabtree Hall Business Centre in Little Holtby, North Yorkshire, said his club now has a "new lease of life" and it's an exciting time for fans.
He said: "I have followed Newcastle all my life and it's been full of ups and downs. For a lot of years now I can only remember the downs. After the takeover it was like a completely different team.
"Trippier and Bruno came when were in a relegation place - now look at us now, it's amazing. It's a good time to be a Newcastle fan."
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