A portrait of Keith Richards which was the inspiration for Johnny Depp's character in Pirates of the Caribbean will be unveiled in public for the first time today.

The 6ft oil on canvas depicts the Rolling Stones guitarist as a swashbuckling pirate complete with cutlass and casket of buried treasure.

It was painted by artist Paul Karslake, the brother-in-law of Richards's bandmate Ronnie Wood.

Hollywood star Depp saw the painting and used it to create his movie character Jack Sparrow.

Since 1998 it has been displayed at Richards's home but now it is to go on public view as part of Karslake's latest exhibition, Survivors, at London's Artisan Gallery.

Karslake explained: "Keith's wife, Patti, called to ask me to paint a picture of Keith as I saw him.

"Having known Keith for nearly 25 years I knew exactly how I wanted to paint him. I used Captain John Morgan as my inspiration - with uncanny parallels.

"Keith and Captain John's parents were both Welsh and John captained the ship The Satisfaction.

"My 6ft painting of Keith was hung in his New York apartment and was seen by his dinner guest, Johnny Depp, who had recently received a script for a pirate film and was in the midst of deciphering the look and personality of the character Jack Sparrow. Johnny claims the picture was his inspiration."

Karslake's other subjects include Twiggy, Sir Winston Churchill, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon.

The Survivors exhibition opens today and runs until November 30.