David Hockney celebrated gay life - even when homosexuality was illegal in the UK

The painter broke social taboos by celebrating same-sex relationships in his art.

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Painted in 1961, this picture may sound like it captures a relatively traditional romantic scene.

But at the time, it was a radical piece of work. That is because the couple in the painting are both men, and in 1961 it was still illegal to be gay in the UK.

Hockney, who has died aged 88, painted We Two Boys Together Clinging as a second-year student at the Royal College of Art.

Homosexuality was only partially decriminalised some six years later, in 1967, when the law changed to allow sex between two men "in private", so long as they were both over the age of 21.