Naked Sinéad pic set to fetch €20,000

A naked portrait of Sinéad O’Connor is expected to fetch up to €20,000 when it goes under the hammer in Dublin tonight.

The painting is by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick. It is expected to fetch up to €20,000 when it goes up for auction at Whyte’s Auctioneers tonight.

The portrait of O’Connor was originally destined to hang in a Dublin nightclub but was bought by the singer, who has now put it up for sale.

The picture, called Strange Days, shows her as a reclining nude on a purple sheet, wearing only a necklace and stockings, with her face reflected in a mirror.

In the background is the Pigeon House area of Dublin, which was included at O’Connor’s request.

It is signed by the artist and, on the reverse, by Sinéad O’Connor.

Fitzpatrick is a friend of the controversial music star – who recently announced her comeback – and first painted her for the cover of her album Faith and Courage in 2000.

The Dublin-born artist and graphic designer has also worked with rock group Thin Lizzy.