Biggest prize ... Archibald Prize-winning artist Adam Cullen has offered Mark `Chopper` Read, above, part of his liver, but offered no guarantees it will make him a better artist.
Chopper Read dying, but would not go on transplant list
Artist Adam Cullen offers part of his liver
No word on if it is compatible
DYING underworld figure Mark "Chopper" Read has been offered a potentially life-saving liver transplant by a prize-winning painter.
Read has hepatitis C but has refused to go on a transplant list because he believes sick children are more deserving than he is.
But Read has been thrown a lifeline by Adam Cullen, whose portrait of actor David Wenham won the Archibald Prize.
"Adam Cullen has offered me half of his liver," Read said.
"I said `will it make me a better artist if I take it?` He said no.
"I said `well I might try it, see how it goes, if it`s compatible`."
Cullen, who worked with Read on children`s book Hooky the Cripple, said he stood by the offer.
"If I have enough, if mine`s okay - they do grow back so I don`t see why he couldn`t have a little bit of mine," Cullen said.
The artist said he did not know if the two were compatible.
"I just offered it and I haven`t heard anything back," he said.
Read has also denied speculation he was on a methadone program.
He said he told police he was on the program during an interview over an alleged aggravated burglary to cover up another "embarrassing" ailment that requires regular pharmacy visits.
Doctors have given Read two to five years to live.
He is continuing to paint and storing his works to provide for his sons after his death.
Biggest prize ... Archibald Prize-winning artist Adam Cullen has offered Mark `Chopper` Read, above, part of his liver, but offered no guarantees it will make him a better artist.
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