Vincent Van Gogh biopic will see 60 artists produce 57,800 oil paintings to make up the film, starring Douglas Booth and Saoirse Ronan.

Principal photography has begun on animated feature Loving Vincent at London’s Three Mills Studio. The film tells the story of the final months and mysterious death of artist Vincent Van Gogh.

Billed as “the world’s first painted animation feature”, the film aims to bring Van Gogh’s masterpieces to life in a unique way. Live action footage will be filmed and then projected, frame by frame, onto canvas and painted over in oils in the style of Van Gogh.

A total of 60 painters will work for a year to complete the 57,800 oil paintings making up the film.

Loving Vincent stars Douglas Booth (The Riot Club), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones), Chris O’Dowd (Calvary), Saoirse Ronan (The Grand Budapest Hotel), John Sessions (The Iron Lady), Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark), and Aidan Turner (The Hobbit).

It is directed by Dorota Kobiela (The Little Postman) and Oscar-winner Hugh Welchman (Peter & The Wolf), produced by Welchman and Ivan Mactaggart (My Week with Marilyn) and written by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman.

Executive producers are Sean Bobbitt and David Parfitt.

The film is a co-production between Poland’s Breakthru Films, run by Welchman, and Trademark Films, the UK production outfit of David Parfitt, winner of the Best Film Oscar for Shakespeare in Love.