Pop!

Siberian tiger from Warhol's Endangered Species series

There is something so familiar about the work of Andy Warhol, if not his art, then at least his philosophy: the old line that everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.

What might not be familiar, or at least wasn't to me, was how much influence Warhol actually had in his own lifetime. Political parties especially would commission portraits because they knew a connection with the artist would raise their own profile.

That was made clear in the exhibition Andy Warhol: Pop, Power and Politics, currently on display at the Scottish Parliament.

What was also clear was that Warhol wasn't just motivated by fame and money (though his intriguing Reigning Queens paintings highlight the artist's fascination with wealth and power).

His stunning Endangered Species series suggests other, more charitable concerns

Despite its surprisingly small size, the exhibition packs a punch and is well worth a visit if you happen to be in town.

The trek down the Royal Mile, on a bitterly cold and grey day like today, is eased a little by the fudge shops on the way down (I stood beside one man who bought £26 of the stuff).

You can however, not just create but be the subject of, your very own Warhol-style artwork from the comfort of your couch: Make Your Own Warhol

If you'd rather have the artist's philosophy though, his book must surely be an interesting read, if not a useful one for your 15 minutes of fame, whenever they should come.