The businessman behind a controversial mural planned for a Glasgow street has said artificial intelligence will have nothing to do with the finished design.

Glasgow City Council approved a proposal from Derek Paterson to create the mural on a wall in the city’s Elmbank Street.

However a suggested design, which Paterson says will represent Scotland’s heritage, was mocked and criticised online for its usage of AI. This included having a bald eagle in the image – a bird not native to Scotland.

Paterson told BBC Scotland News the image was an indicative drawing rather than a finished design, and an artist would have free reign on the mural.

He added that he had received considerable abuse online for the proposal, and that the local artist hired had several pieces of work already displayed in the city.

Artists in the city have told BBC Scotland News the idea should have featured human involvement from the start.

The design features Highland cows, a stag, a steam train, a worker wearing a flat cap and a building that appears to be based around the Wallace Monument in Stirling.

It was slated on social media for being twee, for the train seemingly floating in the air and for use of the eagle – speculated by some to be an AI attempt at a sea eagle.

Paterson said: “From the outset I have stressed to the artist that he has a blank canvas to work on and I will merely provide the theme.

“I’m attempting to convey a story which celebrates Glasgow’s rich industrial heritage whilst tipping a hat to the city’s industrial future.

“I can’t stress enough that AI will have nothing to do with the mural. It was merely an indicative drawing attempting to convey an idea on which the mural will be loosely based, but the artist will have licence to let his creative juices flow, within reason and subject to the council’s guidelines.”