For over 15 years Lachlan Goudie has been drawing and painting in extraordinary industrial locations across the United Kingdom. From shipyards on the River Clyde, to blast furnaces in Wales and high-tech Satellite manufacturing laboratories in Portsmouth, he has found creative inspiration in the unlikeliest of studios.
Over the years these visits to engineering sites, factories, harboursides and mines have enabled him to produce hundreds of drawings, paintings and prints. When viewed together these images constitute an unusual archive; a picture history of modern British industry. A story of national achievement, pride and technological innovation.
Lachlan Goudie said: “I’ve always been fascinated by industry as a painting subject. Growing up in Glasgow in the 1980s, my father described the days when the River Clyde bustled with ships and shipbuilding.
“But when I went to see for myself, the River was all but silent. So I began to draw the archaeology of a dying industrial landscape along the Clyde, desperate to re-capture what I had missed.
“In time I managed to gain access to the BAE shipyards in Govan and Scotstoun, the last two major yards surviving on the Clyde and my first visits coincided with a resurgence of shipbuilding activity.
“I was the only artist permitted on site to document the construction of Britain’s vast naval flagships, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, and the craftsmen and women involved in that project.”
Lachlan Goudie’s experiences on the Clyde motivated him to seek out other locations that might contribute to a portrait of working Britain.
He added: “Over the course of more than a decade I have made a painting pilgrimage to, amongst other places, the UK’s deepest mine in Yorkshire, one of the world’s largest slate quarries at Dinorwig in Wales, the country’s most important oil refinery and a steel furnace the size of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
“At each extraordinary site I have found myself drawing rarely documented manufacturing processes, intricately assembled products and a workforce who often identify closely with the history and the economic importance of the jobs they do.”
Goudie is not the first painter to find themselves enthralled by both British industry and the countryside. Over the centuries there have been many celebrated artists who saw no contradiction in taking their inspiration from nature as well as the country’s manufacturing landscape, the factories, forges and awesome engineering sites that built the modern nation.
Pastoral painters like JMW Turner, Stanley Spencer and Dame Laura Knight produced a range of responses to the story of British industry, from social critique to full blown celebrations of the industrial sublime.
Lachlan Goudie added: “Many of us treasure the idea that we are a pastoral nation, but modern industry and nature are portrayed as being in perennial conflict. The legacy of heavy industry and the environmental pressure this creates, has placed them at odds with one another.
“As an artist, however, I find both subjects equally compelling. And through the course of my work I have discovered that natural and industrial landscapes share certain characteristics.
“Sublime scale and intricacy are unexpected components of both environments. ‘From the Forest to the Forge’ will include many works inspired by woods, trees, and the wonders of natural engineering.”
In many cases, Goudie’s work has borne witness to the end of an industrial legacy and the environmental impact this represents.
His paintings document the last days of steel production at Port Talbot and Redcar, the changing skyline of Glasgow as ‘Titan’ cranes were demolished and replaced, whilst on the northeast coast at Hartlepool, he has charted the dismantling of immense offshore rigs, monumental structures that once defined the North Sea Oil boom.
On other occasions he has been able to record the resilience of steel rolling at Dalzell (the last surviving component of the immense Ravenscraig steel works) and the advance of innovative new technologies, at the Airbus space and satellite manufacturing labs in Portsmouth and Stevenage.
His creative relationship with British industry helped inform the making of two BBC documentaries; ‘The Colours of the Clyde’ (2014), which explored the work of Stanley Spencer in the shipyards at Port Glasgow during WWII, and ‘Awesome Beauty – The Art of Industrial Britain’ (2017), which investigated the legacy of British artists who, like Goudie, were inspired by industry.
This exhibition will, for the first time, bring together the complete range of works produced during his fifteen-year painting pilgrimage through Industrial Britain. The display will also include drawings and paintings produced in the woods of the Scottish Borders and in Dorset.
Spreading Christmas cheer, Edinburgh’s Christmas offers over 8,500 free tickets to local community groups and charities
Edinburgh’s Christmas spreads festive cheer further across the capital this year by offering more tickets than ever before to local community groups and charities, with over 8,500 free tickets now available across the community.
With more people than ever before able to share in the Christmas magic, this year over 8,500 tickets for Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions – including the Ice Rink, Santa’s Stories, West Princes Street Gardens Funfair, LNER Big Wheel and for the first time ever, the Around the World Star Flyer – are being gifted to local community groups and charities to join in the festive fun.
Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas are now keen to hear from charities and volunteer organisations working in communities across the capital.
Over 8,000 tickets in 2024 were gifted to over 160 local charities including those working with people with disabilities, young carers, refugees, and other disadvantaged groups, to ensure that Edinburgh’s Christmas is magical for as many as possible this festive season from funfair rides to meeting Santa himself.
Local groups and charities can apply now for tickets to this year’s event which will bring a dusting of Christmas sparkle to the Scottish capital from 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026.
More information on this year’s highlights can be found on the edinburghs-christmas.com website.
Donations and money raised across both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivals this year will be distributed to the event’s Official Charity Partners; One City Trust, When You Wish Upon A Star, Simon Community Scotland and Age Scotland. Last year visitors raised £11,000 for charity via donations made online when purchasing tickets and at fundraising points around Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay.
Unique Assembly will also soon announce a programme of free community-focused events at the iconic Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens.
Judith King, Scotland Fundraiser at When You Wish Upon A Star said: “We are truly honoured to be selected as one of the charity partners for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festival with their support, we can grant even more wishes for local children living with life-threatening or terminal illnesses.
“Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay are at the heart of our Wish family in Scotland. They consistently go above and beyond to support not only our wish-granting work but also our beloved Edinburgh Santa Fun Run and Walk, now in its 21st year.
“This festive season, their contribution will strengthen local communities, positively impact service users, and make a real difference for those who rely heavily on charitable support every day.
“We are proud to be part of Edinburgh Christmas Magic this year.”
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “With even more tickets available for communities and charities than ever before, I’m delighted that so many residents will have a chance to experience the magic of Edinburgh’s Christmas.
“It’s a small but meaningful way to say thank you and celebrate the incredible impact these groups have all year round.”
“I’d encourage organisations and charities to apply for tickets to make the most of what promises to be a truly memorable festive season for all.”
A Spokesperson for Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas said: “We’re delighted that so many community groups and charities in the city received free tickets last year and we’re building on that to offer even more Community Tickets this year.
“The work of community groups and charities in Edinburgh is more vital than ever, so offering free tickets to ensure that those most in need of some Christmas cheer can enjoy themselves this year, is hugely important to us.
“Whether you’re applying for tickets for your own organisation or want to support our wonderful charity partners with a donation, we encourage everyone to give what they can and support those who need it most this Christmas.”
The opportunity to apply is now open and the deadline for Community Ticket applications is 23:59 on Wednesday 05 November, and those who apply will hear about their tickets by Friday 07 November.
Residents with an EH postcode remain eligible for a 20% discount on tickets to all of Edinburgh’s Christmas events. For further information, visit the edinburgh-christmas.com website.
Organisations applying for community tickets can also get in touch at communities@unique-assembly.co.uk. Tickets are limited per application and applications should include details of your organisation’s aims and how you would like to use the tickets.
Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions are open daily from 15 November to 4 January, except Christmas Day, with varying opening dates and times available at the official website.
The 2025 Soundhouse Winter Festival returns from Thursday 27 November to Monday 1 December at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, thanks to support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
The festival showcases musicians either from, or based in Scotland, and runs over St Andrews Day and the Fair Saturday weekend. The programme includes some of Scotland’s finest jazz, and trad musicians, a showcase of emerging new musicians, music workshops for adults and young people, and a silent film accompanied by live music.
Headliners include experimental folk band Constant Follower led by songwriter Steven McAll playing tracks from their latest album Let the Healing Begin which has recently been added to the long list for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) award, 2024’s Scottish Jazz Vocalist of the Year Niki King; genre blending spoken word artist, rapper, and rising star Bee Asha; andguitarist Chris Amer and his Sextet (Matt Carmichael, Fergus McCreadie, Gus Stirrat, Stephen Henderson and Mhairi Marwick) performing music from their new collection Making Peace With What Is.
In addition, award-winning Scottish composer and guitarist Graeme Stephen will present his score for the 1927 silent film Metropolis, performedby Stephen on guitar and a classical string quartet lead by Fiona Winning on viola.
The quartet is completed by Tom Hanky (violin), George Smith (violin) and Robert Irvine (‘cello). Graeme will also be giving a non-participatory masterclass in Developing Concepts for Composition, Improvisation and Practice, for learners to explore creative ways to turn their ideas into compositions.
Other highlights over the weekend include harpist and lead vocalist Dara Dubh performing fan favourites and new tracks with Tony McVey on drums, Eve Simpson on keys/vocals and Brad Phillips on doublebass.
Multi-instrumentalist and folk singer Cahalen Morrison performing songs from his forthcoming album with his freshly minted trio; and jazz saxaphonist Rachel Duns, whose music ranges from blues and soul, to thepsychedelic sounds of the 1960s.
Over the weekend, audiences will also be treated to an afternoon concert from Scottish/Egyptian instrumentalists and composers The Ayoub Sisters who rose to stardom after their debut album premiered at No.1 in the Official Classical Charts.
Plus, three emerging artists playing in this year’s Spotlight concert, showcasing the very best up and coming jazz musicians in Scotland.
They include guitarist and double bass player Timmy Allan who won the BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year Award in 2024 and this year’s Alan McAuley Jazz Award; The Ewan Johnston Trio formed of pianist Ewan Johnston, Christopher Quinnon on bass and Roan Anderson on drums; and the Milele Collective a young five-piece making waves on the Scottish scene with their jazz, latin and afro grooves.
In addition, cellist and improvisor Simone Seales will be giving an Improvisation Workshop for beginners on how to make sound without musical notation, open to amateur or experienced instrumentalists, vocalists or musicians from any other discipline.
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers said:“After last year’s multi-genre celebration of the Scottish music scene, we are delighted to be back for our second annual Soundhouse Winter Festival.
“We’ll be presenting jazz, pop, rap, classical, soul, funk, folk, trad, and many points where those categories intersect. It will be heartwarming, life affirming and a great antidote to the November blues. We extend a warm welcome to all: come and be part of Edinburgh’s great music-loving community.“
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotlandsaid: “The closes and wynds of the capital are about to come alive as the Soundhouse Winter Festival returns to Edinburgh with another excellent array of rising stars and familiar faces.
“This compact and perfectly curated programme offers plenty of opportunities to discover new talent across an extended weekend in November, with must-see gigs each and every day.
“Organised by the same people as Edinburgh’s rejuvenated Tradfest, the quality of music is guaranteed to be top-level, with something to suit all tastes.”
‘I hope they’ll appreciate the labour of love that went into preserving this iconic landmark’
A time capsule has been interred at North Bridge to mark the project’s work for future generations.
Some of the items for the capsule included:
A letter from the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and Council Leader Jane Meagher to the future citizens of Edinburgh.
A paint brush used by the Transport and Environment Convener Stephen Jenkinson to hand finish the cast iron façade.
A Balfour Beatty high visibility vest.
A Glengarry Cap from the Kings Own Scottish Borderers regiment.
The school prayer of St Augustine’s High School etched in glass.
A photograph of the Historic Environment Scotland grants team on a site visit.
Three books created as part of the North Bridge Refurbishment Project Legacy Arts Programme.
Objects were contributed by a number of partner organisations and invited guests.
The Category A listed structure is a key transport link between the north and south of the city. The original North Bridge began construction in 1763 and was then replaced between 1894 and 1897 by the structure which we see today.
According to historical records, at some point between 1894 and 1897 a time capsule was interned inside the structure.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “North Bridge has been a familiar feature of Edinburgh’s cityscape for well over two centuries. This corridor continues to form a vital part of our city’s modern transport network, whilst also serving as a visual reminder of our city’s rich history and building tradition.
“As we gather today to inter our own pieces of history, it’s comforting to think that many years from now future generations will look back at the vital work we’ve been undertaking, just as we have appreciated the work of those before us.
“The complexity and skill of this work cannot be understated, with some areas being repaired and renovated which hadn’t seen the light of day in over one hundred years. I’m incredibly grateful for the efforts of everyone involved with the project.
“We owe it to Edinburgh’s future residents and visitors to make sure that we complete this project to the highest standards. With the bridge on the cusp of being fully refurbished to its former glory, this is a moment that we can all look forward to together with pride and optimism.”
Project Director for Balfour Beatty, Rory McFadden said:“As we welcome guests to mark the placing of this time capsule and celebrate the restoration of Edinburgh’s North Bridge, I’d like to reflect on the incredible journey undertaken by those involved. It hasn’t been easy.
“When discussions began in 2017, none of us could have anticipated the challenges ahead—especially the bridge’s condition, which was far worse than expected.
“Yet, through determination, innovation, and teamwork, we’ve delivered something truly special.
“We can take immense pride in restoring this historic structure, ensuring its preservation for generations. The past Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) President’s comparison to dentistry on a massive scale couldn’t be more fitting, describing the meticulous care and precision required to return the bridge to its former glory.
“Throughout this journey, we engaged with thousands of individuals, many of whom left in awe and became allies of the project. Over 3,000 people contributed on-site, learning new techniques as we delivered the works while respecting our neighbours and keeping this vital north-south link open. Their dedication was instrumental in our success.
“As the scaffolding comes down and the bridge slowly reveals itself, it will stand tall – a testament to our collective efforts. The people of Edinburgh and its visitors will witness the bridge in all its grandeur.
“I think about the future, about those who will open this time capsule years from now. Will they be as impressed by our restoration as we are by its original construction? I believe they will – and I hope they’ll appreciate the labour of love that went into preserving this iconic landmark.”
Major works are expected to be completed in Spring 2026 with all remaining works to be completed in Summer 2026.
The time capsule interment ceremony was attended by representatives from the City of Edinburgh Council, Balfour Beatty, Atkins Realis, NBR Legacy Projects: Moving Image Commission (Rachel Mclean & Jonathan Webb), the Super Power Agency, Volker Laser, SCAPE Scotland, Currie & Brown, Invisible Cities, Historic Environment Scotland, Capital City Partnership, The King’s Own Scottish Borderers Association, and pupils from St Augustine’s High School, St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, Jeda Pearl Lewis (Artist/Author), Estelle Meyer (Cobble Tales).
A full list of the items contributed to the time capsule is below with the contributor in brackets at the end:
A signed copy of Our Storied Town by Donald Smith (Author), Cat Outram (Illustrator) and the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge. (Lord Provost)
A letter to the future generations of Edinburgh from the Lord Provost and Council Leader Jane Meagher. (Lord Provost and Council Leader)
An Edinburgh 900 programme. (Lord Provost)
An invitation to the Edinburgh 900 Book Launch which took place earlier this year for Edinburgh: A New History by Alastair Moffat & Edinburgh: The Autobiography by Alan Taylor. (Lord Provost)
Paint brush used to hand finish the cast iron façade (Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson)
Copy of a Green Pencil Award and brochure of poems (Central Library)
A signed Hibernian FC strip (Central Library/Hibernian FC)
Leaflets from the Edinburgh Playhouse and Cockburn Association (Central Library, Edinburgh Playhouse and Cockburn Association)
Glass etching of the St Augustine’s High School prayer and school pennant. (St Augustine’s High School)
A package including a Glengarry Cap, a concise version of the regiment’s history and their tartan. (The King’s Own Scottish Borderer’s Association)
A high visibility vest, water bottle, bolts and rivets from the bridge and construction drawings (Balfour Beatty)
A Lego man and a fifty pence piece (St Thomas of Aquin’s High School)
A letter from a pupil named Archie to the future of Edinburgh (St Thomas of Aquin’s High School)
A photograph of the grants team on a site visit to the bridge with a note. (Historic Environment Scotland)
A copy of North Bridge Where We Travelled – North Bridge Refurbishment Project Legacy Arts Programme (Jeda Pearl Lewis)
A copy of Stories From The Stones and What’s That About North Bridge – North Bridge Refurbishment Project Legacy Arts Programme (Super Power Agency)
In 2026, the Royal Scottish Academy, one of the oldest and most prestigious cultural institutions in the UK, will be 200 years old.
An independent artist-led organisation with links to every part of Scotland and beyond, the Royal Scottish Academy is planning a unique celebration involving hundreds of artists, partners, galleries and institutions across the country and with an ambitious programme at their Edinburgh home; the largest and most expansive yet, including a major focus on women artists past and present.
Today, the RSA are delighted with the exhibition programme for the gallery spaces in Edinburgh, including major solo shows with RSA members past and present, including Joyce W. Cairns and Barbara Rae, a celebratory Annual Exhibition, the annual New Contemporaries moment for emerging Scottish artists, as well as fresh takes on the institutions collection; curated by a wide range of artists and experts from the RSA and across the Scottish artworld.
RSA Director Colin Greenslade said: “I am delighted to share the full gallery programme for our 200th anniversary year.
“There is truly something for everyone; the finest in Scottish contemporary art and architecture, made by those just beginning their careers, through to those with a revered, established practice.
“For the Summer we have an important retrospective by Joyce W. Cairns and we round off the year with a major new exhibition by Dame Barbara Rae. As a membership organisation with threads of activity across the sector, our group exhibitions for 2026 will explore our history, our legacy and our future.
“Complementing the vast range of associated activities of our partners across the length and breadth of Scotland, the exciting programme for the galleries here in Edinburgh will be an opportunity to learn more about our extensive support of Scottish artists’ and architects’ practice during this important anniversary moment”
Curated by Richard Murphy RSA OBE, Generation explores the idea of the architectural family tree, bringing together the work of sixteen architects, all of whom formerly worked at the Edinburgh practice of Richard Murphy Architects and have since gone on to establish their own successful practices.
Richard Murphy acknowledges Ted Cullinan (1931-2019), Richard MacCormac (1938-2014), Isi Metzstein RSA (1928-2012), Glen Murcutt and Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978) as influential on his own practice. Now he is looking to the next generation to see how this legacy is continued.
Origin Stories
24 January – 8 March 2026
Everyone remembers their favourite teacher. For art students, the intensely creative environment of art school can make their tutors hugely important influencers and facilitators of their future careers.
Origin Stories will explore the web of artistic relationships that have manifested through the evolution of art teaching in Scotland. Since its foundation, the Royal Scottish Academy has put the support of teaching and training of artists at the heart of its endeavours.
Royal Scottish Academicians have been involved in the art teaching institutions that have evolved in Scotland over the last two hundred years.
Flowing from tutor to student, a fascinating lineage of influence can be traced from the nineteenth century to the present day, involving multiple interconnecting narratives via many hundreds of artists.
Curated by the RSA’s Head of Collections Sandy Wood, this exhibition will tell this previously untold story of influence and legacy, with artworks by some of the best-known names in Scottish art on view alongside those by emerging artists.
New Contemporaries (2022), artwork L-R Jack Whitelock, Jess Townley Hume, Josie Jones. Photo: Julie Howden
RSA New Contemporaries 2026
28 March – 22 April 2026
For 200 years the Royal Scottish Academy has been a champion of knowledge and education in the visual arts.
RSA New Contemporaries represents the Academy’s commitment to supporting and promoting emerging artists and architects in Scotland.
Now in its seventeenth year, it offers a unique opportunity to see some of the most promising talent in Scotland in one single, large-scale exhibition in the heart of Edinburgh. Supported by the RSA Blackadder Houston Bequest and showcasing 64 graduates selected from the 2025 degree shows, the exhibition is the best overview of the current outlook of emerging Scottish art and architecture.
The 2026 exhibition is convened by Michael Visocchi RSA, with assistance from his fellow Royal Scottish Academicians, and Architecture Convenor Christopher Platt RSA.
The 200th Annual Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy
9 May – 14 June 2026
The Annual Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy is the largest and longest running exhibition of contemporary art in Scotland.
A yearly barometer of Scottish art, the exhibition has been at the heart of the Academy’s activity since its founding in 1826. For 200 years, the exhibition has captured art and architecture at a moment in time, reflecting the world as it has changed with the Industrial Revolution, two world wars, the invention of the telephone and the birth of the internet.
The 200th edition of the Annual Exhibition will be a melting pot of contemporary art from across Scotland and further afield, with all artworks shown side by side in the Academy’s grand Neoclassical galleries in the heart of Edinburgh.
This year’s Exhibition Convenor is artist Annie Cattrell RSA, assisted by Architecture Convenor Fergus Purdie RSA. This significant year for the RSA also marks the tricentenary of the birth of James Hutton (1726–1797), the ‘father of modern geology’.
Reflecting on the RSA’s philosophical and physical foundations (with the building constructed on ancient volcanic rock), Cattrell’s curation will explore the RSA’s rich and layered development over time. She has invited artists interested in ideas of geology and the passage of time, including Martin Creed, James Geurts, Cathie Pilkington and Stephen Skrynka, to take part in the exhibition.
Architecture Convenor Fergus Purdie will reflect on the themes of identity and beginnings by inviting his fellow Academicians to design an imagined, alternative building for the RSA in Glasgow. Sam Ainsley RSA has been commissioned to design banners for the iconic columned façade of the Academy building.
Chaos & Control: Printmaking in Scotland Now
27 June – 26 July 2026
This timely survey exhibition will explore the contribution of printmaking to the landscape of contemporary art in Scotland.
Described by Niki de Saint Phalle as ‘controlled chaos,’ printmaking encourages collaboration, offering artists opportunities to share knowledge and working practices.
Printmaking studios have been community hubs for artists in Scotland since the first open access workshops opened in the 1960s and 70s. Whilst other visual arts organisations have struggled to secure funding and support in Scotland in recent years, printmaking studios continue to thrive, with strong artist-led memberships and affordable art at the centre of their purpose.
Curated by acclaimed printmaker Ade Adesina RSA and the RSA’s Head of Programme Flora La Thangue, the exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to view artworks by the foremost names in contemporary Scottish printmaking, as well as lesser-known and emerging artists pushing the boundaries of contemporary printmaking techniques.
Joyce W. Cairns: A Personal Odyssey
1 August – 2 September 2026
The Royal Scottish Academy will mount a wide-reaching exhibition exploring the career of acclaimed artist Joyce W. Cairns as part of its 200th anniversary celebrations.
As the first woman to be elected President of the RSA and an influential educator to generations of Scottish artists, Cairns has long been an important voice in Scottish art. A major exhibition of her practice is long overdue.
Joyce W. Cairns PPRSA, Bonjour Matelot
This exhibition will explore major bodies of work from across Cairns’ career, with the haunting characters of her Aberdeen harbour scenes on view alongside monumental paintings from her seminal War Tourist project.
Early works from the artist’s days as a student at Gray’s School of Art will be on view alongside her distinctive figurative painting, pulling from memories of her childhood and her home in the once fishing village of Footdee.
The exhibition will trace the progression of Cairns’ intensely personal, autobiographical style of painting and position her as a linchpin in the trajectory of contemporary Scottish art.
Born in Edinburgh, Joyce W. Cairns PPRSA studied painting at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen (1966-71), and at the Royal College of Art (1971-74).
Following a fellowship at Gloucester College of Art and Design, she studied at Goldsmiths College, University of London. In 1976 she returned to Aberdeen to teach Drawing and Painting at Gray’s until 2004 when she left to complete a substantial body of work culminating in the exhibition War Tourist at Aberdeen Art Gallery. Cairns was President of the Royal Scottish Academy from 2018 to 2022.
This 26: Contemporary Scottish Art and the Academy
12 September – 11 October 2026
Every year the Royal Scottish Academy supports hundreds of artists through awards, residencies, exhibitions and scholarships.
Since the start of this century, the Academy has given over £5.5 million to artists, many of whom have used the financial support as a springboard for professional success and artistic acclaim.
Curated by Edward Summerton RSA and Amy Cameron, This 26 will look at the recent history of the RSA’s artist opportunity programme, presenting works by 26 artists, one selected for each year of this century so far.
200 Years
17 October – 15 November 2026
Taking cue from the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Scottish Academy, 200 Years will celebrate the rich history of Scottish art in all its forms over the last two centuries.
Reflecting the centrality of the Academy to the development of Scottish art, the exhibition will include works created by Royal Scottish Academicians since its founding in 1826.
The exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to explore paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints by the foremost artists working in Scotland over the last 200 years.
James Good Tunny, Interior of the Great [Octagon] Room in the shared National Gallery, RSA Annual Exhibition 1860, RSA Collections
Ade Adesina RSA in front of Revolver II and Revolver III, Photo Alan Dimmick
Barbara Rae: Charting South
21 November 2026 – 24 January 2027
In the wake of the hugely popular exhibition Barbara Rae: The Northwest Passage in 2018, the Royal Scottish Academy will present a major, new exhibition.
The Northwest Passage was the culmination of Barbara Rae’s travels following in the footsteps of her namesake, the explorer John Rae. The resulting body of work drew on the intense colour and light of the Arctic in monumental, luminous paintings.
Her interest piqued by the history of exploration, in late 2022 Rae took her work from one pole to the other, travelling to Antarctica to trace the ill-fated journey of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-17).
This exhibition presents a significant body of new work by Rae, relating to locations along Shackleton’s route, including South Georgia and Elephant Island.
Born in Falkirk, Dame Barbara Rae RSA RA studied painting at Edinburgh College of Art (1961-1965). Travelling to France and Spain on a postgraduate scholarship, her early work drew upon trends of abstraction and mixed media practices in European art at the time.
Since her first solo exhibition in Edinburgh in 1967, she has gone on to exhibit worldwide. She was elected Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1980 and became a full Member in 1992.
In 1996 she was elected a Member of the Royal Academy. She holds honorary doctorates from Napier University, Aberdeen University and the University of St Andrews; and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College.
Barbara Rae was made a dame in the New Year’s Honours 2025.
Dame Barbara Rae RA RSA in front of her work Exit (2015), photo Gareth Wardell.
Forever Edinburgh has announced the launch of Resident Days, a brand-new initiative giving people who live in the capital exclusive opportunities to enjoy free or discounted access to local attractions, tours and experiences.
This is running alongside the Resident Rewards programme – which offers residents access to exclusive deals and discounts all year.
Resident Days builds on the success of Resident Rewards Edinburgh: Gives Back, which saw Forever Edinburgh, OneCity Trust and local tourism businesses offering hundreds of free experiences for those facing challenging circumstances in our city and the St Andrew’s Day: Resident Special, which gave special discounted rates for key Edinburgh attractions for Scotland’s national day.
Resident Days will give Edinburgh residents exclusive rewards including a range of free and half-price access to leisure, hospitality and cultural experiences across the city from almost 30 organisations.
The initiative will run across four dates between September 2025 and January 2026, starting with World Tourism Day on Saturday 27 September 2025, which will see offers like half price green fees at Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, free tours at Scotch Whisky Experience and two for one tickets for the Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile tour from Mercat Tours.
A set amount of each offer is available, so residents need to be quick to snap them up.
Later days are:
Carers Rights Day – Friday 21 November 2025 – exclusively for unpaid carers in Edinburgh
St Andrew’s Day – Sunday 30 November 2025
Burns Night – Sunday 25 January 2026
Resident Days are part of Forever Edinburgh’s Resident Rewards programme and have been designed to thank local people for their role in supporting the city’s visitor economy.
By showcasing Edinburgh’s world-class tourism offering, the initiative also highlights the businesses that make the city a global destination.
Cllr Jane Meagher, leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a fantastic initiative that puts residents at the heart of our visitor economy.
“Edinburgh is rightly celebrated around the world, but it is the people who live here who give the city its character and warmth.
“Resident Days are a way of saying thank you, while encouraging communities to discover and enjoy the amazing experiences available right on their doorstep.
“We hope this makes such trips more affordable and accessible, and encourages people to enjoy being a tourist in their own city.”
Tamsin Job, Head of Visitor Experience at Port of Leith Distillery, said:“Here at Port of Leith Distillery and Lind & Lime Distillery we love being part of the Residents Rewards Programme.
“Offering great discounts through Resident Days allows us to give back to our fabulous Edinburgh community. Using the rewards at our distilleries allows residents to experience our working gin and whisky distilleries, right here in Edinburgh.
“We have something for everyone, from tours and retail, to hospitality in our amazing Port of Leith Distillery Bar and space for events and meetings too.
“This initiative means we can offer reduced rates to first timers, repeat visitors and anyone who wants to give it a go. We love being part of this reward that lets locals discover, explore and enjoy everything Edinburgh has to offer.”
Kerry Sloan, Respitality Manager at Shared Care Scotland, said:“Shared Care Scotland is proud to be collaborating with Forever Edinburgh and VOCAL Carers Hub to create the first Resident Days focused on carers in the capital, which will help to mark both Carers Rights Day and celebrate 10 years of our social tourism short breaks service, Respitality.
“Social tourism plays a key role in making these experiences possible, helping to break down barriers and ensure that everyone – regardless of circumstance – can access the wellbeing benefits of leisure, connection and discovery.
“We hope that the Carers Rights Days celebration provides a vital opportunity for unpaid carers to not only rest, recharge and engage with their local community, but to also feel recognised and valued for the contribution they make to our society.”
Full details of participating venues and how to claim rewards will be available on Forever Edinburgh’s dedicated Resident Day microsite at:
Specsavers at Shandwick Place in Edinburgh is celebrating it’s over two decade long commitment to promoting better eye health in the local community this National Eye Health Week (22nd – 28th September).
As a locally owned and run store, Specsavers Shandwick Place is dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of people in the area. The high street retailer is keen to raise awareness about the importance of regular eye checks this National Eye Health Week, which runs from 22nd – 28th September 2025.
With figures from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) revealing that one in five people will experience sight loss in their lifetime*, Specsavers Shandwick Place is urging locals to prioritise their eye health.
Store director, Aly Uka says: ‘Many people don’t realise that sight loss can often be prevented or treated if a condition is caught early.
“Regular eye tests are essential for everyone, even if you think your vision is fine. Eye tests are not just about glasses, they can detect serious conditions like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and even high blood pressure or risk of stroke.’
National Eye Health Week highlights how preventative care and early diagnosis are crucial in reducing unnecessary sight loss.
According to RNIB, 250 people in the UK begin to lose their sight every day, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages*.
Eye health can also be affected by screen fatigue, especially as more people spend time on devices. Specsavers recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away to help reduce strain and preserve vision.
As a long-standing part of the Shandwick Place community, Specsavers is focused on highlighting that essential health services must be accessible and visible to everyone.
For more information on Specsavers Shandwick Place or to book an appointment, call the store on 0131 240 8860 or visit:
2 – 25 October 2025 | The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
This October, The Scottish Gallery is proud to present a landmark double exhibition: 50 Years of Naboland and The Behrens Family. Together, these parallel shows celebrate one of the most original artistic journeys of our time, while also revealing the extraordinary breadth of creativity across three generations of the Behrens family.
For half a century, Reinhard Behrens has constructed and voyaged through his mythical land of Naboland. With its submarine expeditions, dreamlike seascapes, and imaginative cartographies, Naboland has become both a place and an odyssey. It is an astonishing body of work that defies convention and redefines storytelling through art.
This immersive exhibition will transform two floors of The Scottish Gallery into Naboland itself, offering audiences the chance to step inside Behrens’ unique universe. The exhibition will also be accompanied by a new publication from The Scottish Gallery which will provide further insights into the mythology, imagery and enduring significance of Behren’s extraordinary creation.
50 Years of Naboland will position Reinhard Behrens rightly as one of the most original and visionary artists of his generation.
Alongside Naboland, The Scottish Gallery is delighted to present The Behrens Family, a showcase of creativity that spans painting, sculpture, music, film, automata and more.
This family exhibition includes works by:
Reinhard Behrens
With its submarines, strange coastlines, and dreamlike cartography, Reinhard’s work invites us to consider travel, place, and the persistence of wonder.
Margaret Behrens Smyth
Margaret Smyth, painter, brings a quiet lyricism to her work. Her paintings, often rooted in nature and memory, offer a meditative counterpoint to the narrative drama of Naboland. Together, Reinhard and Margaret’s artistic lives have formed a deeply generative partnership that has nurtured creativity across generations.
Kirstie Behrens
Kirstie Behrens is an accomplished printmaker specialising in etching and drawing. A graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone, Dundee, her practice is grounded in careful observation and process, with a particular sensitivity to mark-making and material. Her work reflects her mother’s quietude and her father’s precision, offering a contemplative and refined perspective on the world.
David Behrens
David Behrens is a trained musician blending music, sculpture, and movement in his kinetic automata and mobiles. He channels a playful intelligence into his artistic practice, with each mobile or automata animated by a sense of narrative and mechanical poetry. While David’s art shares his father’s sense of invention, his speaks with a distinct voice shaped by sound, rhythm, and cinematic vision.
Together, these four voices offer a kaleidoscopic view of artistic inheritance, innovation and collaboration, demonstrating how creativity can flourish within and across generations.
Christina Jansen, Director of The Scottish Gallery, says: “It is time that Reinhard Behrens is recognised for his astonishing art odyssey.
“50 Years of Naboland is not just a retrospective, it is a journey into imagination itself. Alongside the wider Behrens family, this exhibition affirms their collective brilliance and unique contribution to contemporary art.”
Officers are continuing to appeal for information to help trace a 12-year-old missing from Perth.Pantica Sali, also known as Garofita, was reported missing on Friday, 19 September, 2025 from the Victoria Street area.
It is understood she travelled to Edinburgh and was last seen in the city’s St James Quarter, around 1pm on Wednesday, 17 September, 2025.
She is described as being around 5ft 6in tall, of slim build, with long, dark hair.
When last seen, she was wearing a black dress, white trainers and hooped earrings. She was also carrying a supermarket carrier bag.
Inspector Jill Dolan said: “Concerns are growing for Pantica’s welfare as time passes and extensive enquiries to trace her are ongoing.
“We are speaking to relatives and friends, carrying out door to door enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage in our efforts to trace her and we continue to ask for the help of the public.
“I would appeal to anyone who has seen Pantica or who has any information on her whereabouts to contact us.
“Additionally, we would ask Pantica herself to get in touch to let us know she is safe.”
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 1182 of Friday, 19 September, 2025.
TEN YEARS OF UNITING COMMUNITES AND CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
Join us in celebrating a decade of light, culture, and community as Edinburgh Diwali marks its 10th Anniversary on Sunday 2nd November 2025.
This year’s landmark event promises a spectacular celebration featuring a vibrant parade through Edinburgh’s New Town, music, dance and cultural performances, the return of public fireworks displays to Princes Street Gardens at the Ross Bandstand, and much more.
Since 2015, Edinburgh Diwali has showcased the spirit of the Indian festival of lights and Scotland’s rich multicultural tapestry by bringing together communities to celebrate diversity. Started as an initiative by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Indian diaspora from the city, Edinburgh Diwali has gone on to become one of the UK’s most prominent public Diwali celebrations, attracting around 10,000 spectators to the parade and performances in Edinburgh’s city centre.
Last year’s celebrations lit up the city with incredible energy, featuring unforgettable performances covering classical to contemporary from across cultures from more than 200 performers, notably Scottish Regiment Band, the electrifying Edinburgh Bhangra Crew, dynamic dance troupes Bollyfeatand Dance Ihayami, and a headline performance from the sensational Kaykay & Co., the London based British Asian fusion band. This year’s 10th anniversary celebration promises to be even bigger, with details of the full programme to be revealed nearer the date.
This special milestone edition of Edinburgh Diwali will take place 13:00 – 19:00 on Sunday 2nd November 2025. The event is free to attend and open to all, encouraging people from across Edinburgh and the surrounding area to participate in this family-friendly festival of light.
For further information about Edinburgh Diwali, visit:
