Painter, designer and writer, born in Glasgow. He attended the School of Art there, 1958–61; Edinburgh College of Art, 1961–2; Glasgow School of Art, 1962–3; then a travelling scholarship took him to Italy in 1963–4. Among his many pursuits Byrne worked as a graphic artist for Scottish Television; did carpet design; and designed record sleeves and book-jackets. He had his first one-man show at Glasgow’s Third Eye Centre in 1975, having become a full-time painter in 1968, signing his work Patrick. This early work was frequently of a whimsical Scottish nature, work under his own name being more mainstream. Byrne was strongly associated with Portal Gallery. Developed another career as a scriptwriter and playwright, writing the successful television series Tutti Frutti and The Slab Boys Trilogy.