How would you like a young Brigitte Bardot by your bedside?

 

Thanks to the work of French painter Sacha, this is a very real possibility – as the artist sells household goods featuring Bardot's image in his beachfront store in Saint Tropez, southern France. The items include anything from candles, watches, shoes, and even keyrings.

 

However, the husband of Brigitte Bardot, Bernard d'Ormale, is unimpressed that his wife's image is being “exploited” and has threatened legal action.

 

He has calling the painter's work an “abusive exploitation”.

 

(Shoes featuring the painter's images of Bardot. Photo: BFMTV)

 

D'Ormale told the Var Matin newspaper that Sacha never asked for permission to use the images, and told the AFP news agency that both him and Brigitte “demanded an end to the abuse”.

 

The artist has denied that he was exploiting anyone, as he painted all the images himself. He told Var Matin that he had even tried to contact Bardot in the hope of sending some of the profits to the former actress's charity – The Fondation Brigitte Bardot. 

 

Sacha added that it “made sense” to paint pictures of the iconic actress, as she helped put the city on the map after spending years living there.

 

The painter added that he was not afraid to head to court, as he was “confident” about the outcome. 

 

(More work from the Saint Tropez painter. Photo: BFMTV)