National Galleries of Scotland

Warm up this winter with free art in Edinburgh

4 Jan 2012

Now the party season is over and the festivities long gone, you and your wallet could probably do with a little TLC. Luckily the National Galleries of Scotland have a full programme of free exhibitions and events during January, to help nourish the mind…

The most significant works of art in Edinburgh

Scotland's National Galleries are home to many major works

16 Feb 2011

What’s your idea of true art? The perfect peachy bums of The Three Graces? Football mastermind Sir Alex Ferguson rendered in cut-up red postcards? A stern-faced ice-skating minister? Whatever tickles your artistic fancy, you can be sure to find it in…

Gilbert and George exhibit at the National Gallery

Retrospective of the iconic art duo

5 Aug 2010

There’s something quite unnerving watching the three films that form the oldest contribution to this mini retrospective of Brit Art’s most enduring double act. Here they are, Gilbert and George, in grainy black and white, young men still in their 20s…

Another World shows Surrealist work by Dali, Magritte and Miro

23 Jun 2010

When you’re 16 and teenage dream states are everything, being strange is all the rage. For the easily-led adolescent, distorted realities where worlds collide and melt out of shape into hallucinogenic symbols of the inner id can’t help but flood through…

BP Portrait Award 2009

24 Nov 2009

For some years now, the BP Portrait Award has proved to be one of the most popular exhibitions in the National Galleries’ calendar – people just love it. In terms of the contemporary Scottish visual art scene, however, portraiture is a rarity. So what…

Running Time – Artist Films in Scotland

Previewing the mammoth exhibition of local artist films

1 Oct 2009

‘It’s a really inspiring time for film and video activity in Scotland,’ says Rosie Lesso, one of the curators of Running Time, a mammoth survey exhibition of artist films in Scotland at the National Galleries. ‘We’ve got some fantastic material.’ The…

The Discovery of Spain - The National Gallery

Work by the country's artists from Old Masters to iconic cubists

13 Jul 2009

After tantalising visitors with idyllic views of Turner’s Italy in their last major exhibition, the National Galleries have turned their attention to Spain for their new Festival show. Rather than concentrating upon the work of a single artist, the…

In The Frame

2 Apr 2009

A glut of ceramic centres has sprung up recently, offering lots of creative fun – but at a price. If you can only run to a pottery painting session every few months or for a birthday treat, there’s no need for the kids to miss out on a regular dose of…

Turner & Italy

19 Mar 2009

An exhibition of paintings by JMW Turner may seem a time-worn prospect, but the National Galleries are offering a new take on the man and his work. ‘Turner came to Scotland six times, but he visited Italy on seven occasions,’ says Christopher Baker…

One day itinerary: A One Day Stand

1 Dec 2008

It's one of Britain's most expensive cities and to hard-up new arrivals, Edinburgh could seem impossible to enjoy without a six-figure bank balance. But we say, why buy a cow when you can get the milk for free? Scotland’s capital positively heaves with…

Spotlight on Titian

27 Nov 2008

Hopes were revived earlier this month that Edinburgh’s national galleries may be able to acquire Titian’s Diana and Actaeon. The piece, which has resided in the National Galleries of Scotland for more than 60 years, courtesy of their owner the Duke of…

Art of the matter

29 Nov 2007

Following a slew of successful exhibitions, the National Galleries of Scotland have announced the recent purchase of two ‘Glasgow School’ pictures from the private collection of Andrew McIntosh Patrick. In collaboration with The Art Fund, the Galleries…

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art chief quits

7 Dec 2006

Richard Calvocoressi, director of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, is leaving to become director of the Henry Moore Foundation.