In the middle of Aberdeen city centre, a pensioner walks up to an unusually placed piano just outside of a busy shopping mall, it's pew free and ready for playing.

From the 82-year-old's fingers comes a familiar tune for the people of the north east, confidently stretching across the keys to play the Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen for passers-by, his little spot of fame captured on camera by his son, who sings along to the tune.

After his spontaneous concert and a few hand claps, he walks off smiling. Gordon Rattery is not a famous musician or a familiar face, just a man who brought the sound of an old abandoned piano to life.

The concept of Play Me, I'm Yours is exactly that; a project designed to encourage people to play piano no matter their ability to bring a little colour and culture to the city during the month of August.

The art installation follows in the musical footsteps of other cities around the world who have taken part in the international project devised by British artist Luke Jerram, which has seen 1500 pianos take over more than 50 different countries.

A call for unwanted or unloved pianos saw organisations and individuals donate the musical instruments, which were then tuned and prepared by Gordon Bell of Gordon Bell Pianos and staff from homelessness charity Aberdeen Foyer.

Creative arts students from the city's North East College decorated the dozen musical instruments, with slogans enticing passers by to spend a few minutes tinkling the ivories.

Since the pianos were installed from Aberdeen's airport to its railway station, the Castlegate to The Green, there have been tentative tinkles on the ivories, children delighting in noisily bashing fists on the keys and accomplished players, all taking the opportunity to play piano no matter their ability in a public space.

A social project

Since the pianos were installed in the city last week, there have been a number of creative displays sweeping social media, with a law firm taking time out to perform their own version of the Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen.

Dutch pianist Edvard Veldman flew in from the Netherlands last Friday with the aim of playing all 12 pianos in one day, having completed similar challenges from Singapore to Australia.

You see a different side to the city," he says. "I'm not very much interested, sorry my bad, in the local museum or who's the guy on the statue or who founded the city 500 years ago.

"But put me into any place on earth and tell me there are 50 pianos out there and I'll get on that public transport and start going."

When STV followed his musical exploits, he was even joined by a passerby who spiced up the spontaneous duet with an on-the-spot rap.

Hot on his heels was Brian Limb from Nottingham, who travelled to Aberdeen specifically to play the pianos after hearing about it in the news.

The arts project, spearheaded by local business collective Aberdeen Inspired, will run in the city until August 21, with chief executive Adrian Watson adding that the pianos have hit the right tune with both locals and visitors.

He says: "The pianos really have captured the imagination of the city and we've been blown away by the response, both on the streets and online with hundreds sharing videos and photos of their own experiences with the pianos.

"We've seen people from all walks of life, of all ages come together and it really has been fantastic to see it gather so much momentum; there's been a real buzz and I can't thank people enough for playing their part."

Adrian says the pianos are not just a draw for tourists, but for Aberdonians to rediscover areas they haven't visited for a while, as well as bringing a little musical joy to the streets.

"There are 12 in total dotted around the city centre and at Aberdeen International Airport; they're a great reason to visit parts of the city that you perhaps haven't been to in a long time.

"Aberdeen Inspired has always supported the goal of enhancing the city's cultural offering and we're delighted to play our part through this project."