Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

Formerly somewhat overshadowed by our other National Galleries, north and south of the border, The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has undergone a dramatic transformation recently. It reopened last December following an extensive (and expensive) redevelopment project, and the extended space open to the public is now much more accessible and welcoming. I wasn’t surprised to learn that this gallery has just been nominated for the Art Fund Prize 2012, the UK’s ‘museum of the year’ award. Apart from the building itself, as now revealed, what impressed me most was its novel interpretation of ... more

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is located in Edinburgh's New Town, near St Andrew's Square. The gallery houses the nations collection of portraits of Scotsmen and women whose lives inspired and changed the world, and whose influence has permeated the fields of science, medicine, philosophy, literature, visual arts, military affairs, the church and sport. The building itself is impressive, and has a story. The collection was founded by David, 11th Earl of Buchan, in the late eighteenth century, and the gallery itself was opened in 1889 thanks to the enthusiasm of historian Thomas ... more