Exhibition honouring pioneering female surgeons unveiled

New artwork commissioned by Royal Medical College will celebrate contributions of women in surgery

A painting commemorating the contributions of female surgeons has been unveiled at Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Edinburgh, marking a significant step forward in increasing the representation of women held in the collections there.

The painting, titled ‘Eleven Surgeons’, by Scotland-based artist Kirstin Mackinnon, represents the namesakes and recipients of the Hunter-Doig medal.

This prestigious award is named after pioneering female surgeons Alice Hunter (1880s-1973) and Caroline Doig (1938-2019), and has been awarded to nine exceptional female surgeons to date – all of whom are still practicing – for excellence within the surgical profession.

Surgeons’ Hall Museums, part of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, commissioned the painting as part of a wider initiative celebrating women’s contributions to surgery.

This includes a temporary exhibition, a permanent museum display, a programme of oral history collecting to secure the histories of living female surgeons, and an extensive programme of learning and engagement activities running throughout 2025–2026.

The composition of the large-scale, oil on canvas artwork includes portraits of Alice Hunter and Caroline Doig, as well as all nine Hunter-Doig medal recipients.

Louise Wilkie, Curator of Surgeons’ Hall Museums, said: “Currently only three out of the 144 portraits in the collections here feature women, and we’re dedicated to addressing this imbalance.

“We feel it is incredibly important to showcase the contributions of female surgeons throughout the years and hope this newest addition to the collection will demonstrate how the surgical profession has evolved. We hope by telling this story, to inspire the next generation of surgeons by paying tribute to those who have paved the way.”

Clare McNaught, Vice President of RCSEd, said: “Honouring and educating others about the women who have played a significant role in shaping the College as we know it today, and in championing the rights of women in the medical field, is something we feel very strongly about.”

Artist Kirstin Mackinnon’s acclaimed work has seen her achieve Semi-Finalist status in Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year and a three-year artist residency with Tighnabruaich Art Gallery. Her work notably focuses on gender equality in contemporary Scottish art.

Kirstin said:“’I am humbled to have been selected to paint such a historically significant commission.

“I recognise and acknowledge the efforts made by the college to promote equal representation for women. It was an honour to work with such inspirational surgeons and to play a part in celebrating their success.”

The commission is being funded by grants from Art Fund and The National Fund for Acquisitions, with generous support from The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Membership and Community. The wider project is being supported by funding from Museums Galleries Scotland.  

The painting is on display in the temporary exhibition A Fair Field and No Favour at Surgeons’ Hall Museum from today – Saturday 5th April 2025 – to March 2026, before being relocated to the public reception atrium of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

For more information, visit: The Anatomy Lab.