The Rolling Stone's first retrospective reveals the history of popular music and the influence of Goya and Rembrandt

Ronnie Wood. Photograph: Steve Thorne/Redferns

For the press, he's the wild man of rock'n'roll, interested only in sex, drugs and drink. But talk to Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood and you discover that what really turns him on is Velázquez, Dürer and Goya.

"People don't know that I'm an artist," he said, as he prepared for his first retrospective. "Playing music as part of a team effort is wonderful, but to express individuality as an artist is very personal. Art is more powerful, a more personal statement."

Wood, 64, never leaves home without his sketchbook in his carrier-bag, and listens to Mozart at his easel. He is too serious an artist to indulge in the contemporary world of "anything's art", regretting that "draughtsmanship is not valued today".

Co-curating a major retrospective, opening in London next month, he has selected 100 works that reflect his skills as a draughtsman and painter. They come from a collection of "many hundreds" of Wood's works amassed by Bernie Chase, 54, an American multi-millionaire.

As a boy, Chase idolised the Stones, but could not afford their albums. Now, having made his fortune selling luxury cars, he has one of the world's biggest collections of popular culture, including Wood's works which sell for up to £1m. Chase said: "Ronnie played with everybody and kept friends with everybody – George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend… The iconic rock'n'roller. His art explains the history of English rock'n'roll."

Images on canvas, paper and even on his guitars display an innate skill, bringing to life stars as just friends hanging out together. Sketches of Rod Stewart kicking a ball and Keith Richards as the devil reflect his humour, while gentle landscapes and a close-up study of one of Richards' hands show a particular delicacy in style and subject. Working unusually quickly with few lines, he conveys character and recognisable faces.

Sir Peter Blake, the Royal Academician, said that Wood deserves to be taken seriously as an artist: "I think people haven't given him credit because he's a rock star, whereas he draws well and he's a good painter."

Edward Lucie-Smith, a leading art historian, said: "Ronnie is in the top flight as a musician, but he's also a fully trained artist – and it shows." He was so impressed by the work that he wrote the exhibition's catalogue essay, saying, for example, that a "striking study" of Eric Clapton is worthy of the National Portrait Gallery.

Wood has art studios in London and regularly visits Madrid to study its Goya and Velázquez masterpieces and Paris, for the Musée d'Orsay. Rembrandt self-portraits are also a particular inspiration: Wood has studied his own face in mirrors for self-portraits, including his cheeky sketch, "Wakin' up in the Wick", dishevelled in bed at home at the Wick in Richmond.

Wood's artistic promise emerged as a child. His school pulled him out from science lessons so that he could paint murals, and at 14 his music teacher paid him £4 for a snow scene . Wood noted: "My dad used to slave away all week for that. I gave half to my mum."

Teacher and pupil keep in touch. "She's about 90-odd and rockin'," he said. He jokes about trying to get his painting back: "She said: 'You cannot have it back. I'll loan it to you for a couple of weeks.' And she did. She came round for it and said, 'Your time is up'. I really find that a huge compliment."

From modest beginnings – the first generation of his water-gypsy family to be born on dry land – he does not forget the kindness of others. He talks of the support from his parents as well as two brothers who, like him, trained at Ealing Art College.

He appreciates encouragement from his artist friend Damien Hirst, who got him painting again after rehab a few years ago by buying him all the equipment: "He could have furnished a whole art school with the brushes, easels, paint, everything. He told me, 'Now you've got no excuse'."

Chase revealed that Wood also helps others, giving away sketches and money to those in need. But he has lost artworks and sentimental possessions to theft. Wood said: "People pretty close to home owned up." A family member also "went through a bad period" and confessed years afterwards to selling Wood's diaries, which later reappeared. He said: "They're fantastic diaries from the 1960s. Things like: 'Great night last night. Sick three times.'"

Wood initially dreamed of being a set designer but, without contacts, film studio doors were closed. He admits to being "star struck" as a boy, predicting: "I'm going to be like them." He was right. But whether the public can see a star artist beyond his rock image remains to be seen.

Ronnie Wood's Faces, Time and Places runs from 7-12 November at 28 Cork Street, London W1.

Legendary Rolling Stone guitarist and Absolute Radio DJ Ronnie Wood has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Radio Festival. Ronnie, pictured above with his producer Claire Neal from Somethin Else, been taking part in the Festival in Salford which sees the industry’s key players come together for a packed programme of events over 3 days.

Ronnie was invited to be interviewed by respected broadcaster Melvyn Bragg about his move from playing a packed out Wembley Stadium to life behind the microphone in a radio studio for his show, during which he chats to some of the biggest names in music. The session proved to be a revealing one, as the once radio novice covered his early years with The Rolling Stones and The Faces. He also talked in depth about his art and took the audience behind the scenes revealing how his show is put together and just how much he loves it! But it seems it’s not just the rocker that’s revelling in his radio programme; he also revealed that Bob Dylan is a big fan!

Ronnie adds the Lifetime Achievement Award to a phenomenally successful year during which he’s picked up a Sony Award for Music Personality of the Year and two Arqiva Awards for Specialist Programme Of The Year and Newcomer Of The Year.

From Sally Humphreys Productions Ltd:

Following on from 'Ronnie Wood: I Feel Like Playing: Live at the Ambassadors' (concert and vinyl box set) we have been working on a new project with Ronnie. This is a box set, which includes:

   * A signed & numbered Ronnie Wood art print.

   * Gold CD with 5 tracks, including a brand new track (more details below), a track from 'Boogie For Stu: Live at the Ambassadors', and three alternative versions of Ronnie's songs.

   * Unseen photographs and bonus material.

It is a limited edition of 750.

The new track 'Playin' On My Mind' is the first raw recording of his new work, and features Kelly Jones on vocals.  Ronnie will be playing a little bit of it on his radio show tonight at 8pm on DAB station Absolute Classic Rock.  It's repeated tomorrow (Saturday) on Absolute Radio at 10pm 105.8FM.

The box set will be available via this website next week.