Paul McCartney has shared a beautiful tribute to his friend, the artist David Hockney.

Hockney died last week at the age of 88, with his representatives mourning “one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries”.

“David Hockney was a friend and an incredible painter,” said Sir Paul.

“I knew him during the 1960s and kept a friendship going till he died on Thursday, the 11th of June. He was very clever witty and fun to be with.

“His paintings often gave off a feeling of great joy. Nancy and I enjoyed visiting his studios in California where we took a drive along Mulholland Drive which he made famous all over again in his sensational paintings.”

He continued: “Or in his London studio. The rooms were filled with paintings. Often some of the most recent pictures that he had done. He would talk about them and his very particular views on art. He felt that it was important to see correctly.

“He wasn’t a great fan of perspective and was always involved in inventing new ways to view the world. His many paintings, drawings, films and other media like iPad drawing he took readily to and mastered.

“He was a serious Chain Smoker and believed it was everyone’s right to smoke like the days when he and I had been brought up in smoke filled rooms.

“We visited him once in Bridlington, Yorkshire. He met us at the train station and drove us to his house in a smoke filled car.

“We will miss his fabulous personality, his laconic wit and his erudite views on how to look at the world.

“Rest in peace, David. We love you.”