National Galleries Scotland – The NEN

A Turner Triumph: Iconic sunrise painting shown in Scotland for the first time

An acclaimed painting by renowned artist JMW Turner is now on display at the National in Edinburgh. Norham Castle, Sunrise is one of the artist’s most celebrated late works and a highlight of the Turner Bequest at Tate.

Its arrival offers visitors a unique opportunity to see this iconic painting, which is on display in Scotland for the first time and free to visit until 4 October 2026.

Norham Castle, Sunrise is one of Turner’s most hauntingly beautiful and intriguing paintings. With its loose, watercolour-like brushwork and glowing colours, it shows Turner’s work at its most experimental, pushing his exploration of sunlight on landscape to extremes.

Unknown in the artist’s lifetime, Norham Castle, Sunrise was one of over 300 oil paintings left in his studio at the time of his death. It is often regarded as emblematic of the expressive, free style of painting now most associated with Turner.

The most famous British artist of the 19th century, Turner was born in London in 1775. His combination of exceptional talent, intellectual curiosity and relentless hard work resulted in paintings which capture the sublime beauty of nature and encourage us to look again at the world around us.

In a career spanning 50 years, he developed new ways of painting. Experimenting with an array of techniques and colour, Turner created works which continue to captivate and excite audiences today.

Norham Castle is situated on the River Tweed, six miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed and at a point where the river forms the border between England and Scotland.

Set on a high mound on the English side and commanding a vital crossing point, the 12th-century castle was one of the most important Border strongholds and was besieged at least 9 times.

It remained a site of military significance until the union of the English and Scottish crowns in 1603 and is integral to Borders history and legend, inspiring Sir Walter Scott’s influential long-form poem Marmion (1808).

Turner felt enormous affection for Norham Castle. He first visited in 1797, aged 22, returning in 1801 as part of his first extended tour of Scotland, and again in 1831, when he was staying with Scott at Abbotsford, near Melrose in the Borders.

Captivated by the vision of the great tower silhouetted against the sky, he sketched the castle from different viewpoints and studied the site under different light conditions, constantly finding something new.

Norham was a rich source of inspiration for him, generating showpiece watercolours and landscape prints. Such was the importance of Norham to Turner’s career that on his final visit in 1831, he is said to have bowed and doffed his hat to the mighty ruins.

Norham Castle, Sunrise comes from a group of light-filled oil paintings from the 1840s, in which Turner revisited favourite subjects from earlier in his career, basing his compositions on his Liber Studiorum prints – a series of 71 engravings intended to demonstrate the power and importance of landscape art.

Drawing upon memory and imagination, Turner captures the essence of this much-loved landscape and shows it transformed by the power of light.

Charlotte Topsfield, Senior Curator European & Scottish Art, said: “We are so excited to have Norham Castle, Sunrise on display in Scotland for the first time and free for everyone to see.

“One of Turner’s best loved paintings, it is an astonishing exploration of light, landscape and the power of memory. We are very grateful to Tate for this special loan, allowing us to share this wonderful picture with our visitors.”

Norham Castle, Sunrise can be found on display at National Galleries Scotland: National, with works from Scotland’s national art collection including another oil by Turner, Somer Hill, Tonbridge by Joseph Mallord William Turner | National Galleries of Scotland and a later painting of Norham Castle from the collection by Scottish artist George Reid, Norham Castle by Sir George Reid | National Galleries of Scotland.

Off the Wall: Art breaks free across Edinburgh!

National Galleries of Scotland surprised hillwalkers, tram travellers and tourists by taking replicas of popular art works out into Edinburgh yesterday.

Passers-by could discover art typically found in the National, Portrait and Modern galleries popping up at sites such as Salisbury Crags, Newhaven, The Meadows, Murrayfield and Leith.

The art works including The Monarch of the Glen by Sir Edwin Landseer, Edinburgh (from Salisbury Crags) by William Crozier, Doddie Weir by Gerard M Burns, Encounter by Remedios Varo, Callum by John Emms and Mary Queen of Scots are always free to visit at the National Galleries of Scotland’s three Edinburgh sites.

National Galleries Scotland: ‘Major step forward’ for The Art Works

We’re delighted to share a major step forward for The Art Works!

The Scottish Government has committed £56 million in funding over the next three years, enabling us to move ahead with confidence on this ambitious project in North Edinburgh, part of the National Collections Hub.

With around 97% of the national art collection currently in storage, The Art Works will provide a new, free-to-visit home, ensuring more of Scotland’s art can be seen and enjoyed. It will also give greater access to art, not just for people in Edinburgh but by enabling us to lend more art across Scotland.

Not only will you be able to walk among some of greatest Scottish treasures, but you can also pop in for a coffee, use the space for work/study, watch our conservators take care of beautiful, historic art and even more.

This investment will help us make the best use of public funding while continuing to care for and share the national collection for the benefit of current and future generations.

Opening New Year’s Day: Turner in January triumphantly returns to the National Galleries of Scotland

Turner in January

1 January – 31 January 2026

National Galleries Scotland: National

Free admission

Turner in January | National Galleries of Scotland

Following the incredible success of last year’s blockbuster exchange with the National Gallery of Ireland, Scotland’s own much-loved Turners are back in Edinburgh for 2026!

Bring in the new year with the eagerly awaited return of Turner in January at the National Galleries of Scotland. Featuring 38 watercolours by renowned artist Joseph Mallord William Turner, the highly anticipated free annual display will take pride of place in room 21 in National Galleries Scotland: National in Edinburgh from 1 – 31 January 2026.

Last year saw thousands of visitors flocking to the National Galleries of Scotland to marvel at a once in a lifetime exchange of Turner watercolours from the Henry Vaughan Bequest with the National Gallery of Ireland, honouring the 250^th anniversary of the artist’s birth.

January 2026 will mark the triumphant return of Scotland’s Turners to Edinburgh, giving avid fans and newfound admirers the chance to spend time with some of the most treasured works from the Scottish national collection.

Turner in January is a beloved tradition for many people in Scotland. It signals the dawning of the New Year, and as we leave behind the darkest days of winter, the bright vitality of Turner’s work is exactly what we need.

Scotland’s famous collection of Turner watercolours was left to the nation by the great art collector Henry Vaughan in 1900. Following Vaughan’s strict guidelines, they have only ever been displayed during the month of January, when natural light levels are at their lowest. Because of this, these watercolours still possess a freshness and an intensity of colour almost 200 years since they were originally created.

This mesmerising exhibition demonstrates the extraordinary range of Turner’s work in watercolour, including atmospheric early drawings, experimental colour studies, spellbinding studies for prints and book illustrations and exhibition showstoppers.

Born in London in 1775, Turner’s combination of exceptional talent, intellectual curiosity and relentless hard work resulted in watercolours which capture the sublime beauty of nature and encourage us to look again at the world around us.

In a career spanning 50 years, he developed new ways of painting in watercolour and revolutionised ideas of what could be achieved in the medium. Experimenting with an array of techniques and colour, Turner created works which continue to captivate and excite audiences today.

Turner in January invites visitors on an exciting, colourful journey, leaving behind January blues in favor of Turner’s views of the world, via moody landscapes, impressive city views and dramatic seascapes.

Travel across Britain, Europe and beyond through a dazzling array of artwork including scenes of the Himalayas, Venice and the Swiss Alps, to places a little closer to home, from a tempestuous view of Loch Coruisk on the Isle of Skye all the way down to serene Melrose in the Scottish Borders.

This year Turner in January will also feature the picturesque watercolour Virginia Water (about 1829), on long term loan to the National Galleries of Scotland and displayed for the first time since 2020.

The work shows a royal fishing expedition on Virginia Water, the artificial lake created as a royal pleasure ground in Windsor Great Park, with King George IV’s newly built ‘Chinese’ Fishing Temple in the background.

In the foreground a pair of royal swans seem to be chasing away mallard ducks, a visual pun on Turner’s middle name.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves further into the world of Turner through a Smartify audio highlights guide, returning for 2026. Free to use on mobile devices, this audio guided tour will give fresh insights into the artwork on display, expanding Turner’s ideas and inspirations and adding another layer to the Turner in January experience.

Summer 2026 will also offer an additional opportunity to enjoy Turner’s work at the National Galleries of Scotland. Join us for an unmissable chance to see one of the artist’s most iconic paintings, Norham Castle, Sunrise, (c. 1845), which will be displayed for free at the National for the very first time as part of a special loan from Tate.

Charlotte Topsfield, Senior Curator of British Drawings and Prints at National Galleries of Scotland said: “After a year of celebrations for Turner’s 250th birthday and the huge excitement of the exchange with the National Gallery of Ireland in January 2025, we are so pleased to be showing Scotland’s Vaughan Turners and honouring Henry Vaughan’s bequest once again.

“We hope visitors will enjoy seeing familiar friends and find new inspiration in Turner’s glorious colour and light.”

Turner in January has been gratefully supported by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and the Postcode Culture Trust. Turner in January is a free National Galleries of Scotland exhibition opening to the public at 12pm on Thursday 1 January 2026.

A message from North Edinburgh: Never Give Up!

Thanks to everyone who came along the National Gallery yesterday to take part in the Resistance – North Edinburgh panel discussion.

It was great to see so many old friends and colleagues and a pleasure to meet new ones too. Participants were not only from North Edinburgh, ‘outsiders’ were also welcomed: we had Leithers, we had folk from Gorgie, Stockbridge and a wee crowd from Wester Hailes too.

But there’s got to be a special mention for one particular online viewer – he was watching from Sydney, Australia (or maybe it was just a bloke called Sidney?)!

Wherever and however you were watching, though, I hope you enjoyed the discussion as much as we did. As you know we went slightly over our allotted time (at one point I thought we might have to apply for a late license!) and we appreciate the organisers at the National Gallery allowing us some leeway.

Even so, I know there was a lot more to share so apologies if you didn’t get the opportunity to ask your question – if it’s any consolation I know I didn’t get to ask half of mine!

Our hope before the event was that it would be informative, interesting and enjoyable and a celebration of vibrant communities, and I think we got there.

I’d like to think we could do it all again one day before too much longer, before we all get just too old and our memories and recollections of events, experiences and the characters who have helped to shape North Edinburgh’s proud history dim and fade.

And if there’s just one message to remember, it’s this: NEVER GIVE UP!

DAVE P

See below for a recording of the event

https://youtu.be/Zc5kFwp-XaY

The celebration continued at the National Portrait Gallery in Queen Street, where the Solidarity Wins: Creative Resistance in North Edinburgh exhibition was launched after an excellent lunch provided by North Edinburgh’s very own Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts.

The exhibition was created by a local collaboration of North Edinburgh Arts’ Art for Grown Up in partnership with Royston Wardieburn Community Centre’s Arts & Culture Group and features art works, music, archive films and research material.

The exhibition will be on display in the Portrait Gallery’s Contemporary Space until – do visit if you can.

And to end the day on a high note, there was music from the Resistance Choir – a new song, no less!

SOLIDARITY WINS: A SONG FOR GREATER PILTON may not become the Christmas Number 1, but it definitely struck the right note with Portrait Gallery punters yesterday!

All together now:

We all come from somewhere and now we’re all here …

PICTURES: CRAIG MCLEAN

Edinburgh designer bangs the drum for creativity

A former drummer from Edinburgh who transforms unwanted drum kits into beautiful homewares has secured a spot at a series of prestigious Scottish design markets.

Darren Wilkie founded Flam Homewares in 2020. He received his first drum kit at the age of 14 and now creates planters, tables, clocks, and lamps from nearly all parts of pre-loved kits, sourced from spare rooms, sheds, and attics across the country.

This season, he has been selected to showcase and sell his creations at Tea Green Events markets across Scotland, at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait, Edinburgh (22–23 November), V&A Dundee (28-30 November), Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow (6–7 December), and concluding at Bowhouse in the East Neuk of Fife (12–13 December 2025).

Darren said, “When I was 14, I was given my first drum kit. While I played it for many years, I eventually moved on to others and this old kit became just another surface for a messy teen to leave clothes on.

“When I left home to study music at University, I kept one of the drums from this old kit for sentimental reasons, hoping to make something with it one day. Fast forward eight years, and while working in mental health during the pandemic, I needed a hobby outside of work.

“I got the old drum out of my gran’s garage, upcycled it into a table, shared it on social media, and that was the start of it. People started asking if I could make them one, and it snowballed. I’ve since expanded to creating planters, trays, tables, clocks, lamps, pet beds and more, all from old unwanted drum kits.”

Earlier this year, Darren went full-time with his business, and his creations can be found in six countries across three continents and in homes and businesses across the UK, including record shops, bars, music venues, barbershops and tattoo studios.

In 2023, Darren also founded Nook & Cranny Studios CIC, providing affordable studio spaces to 16 emerging artists, makers and small businesses in Leith.

“Finding studio space in Edinburgh that’s affordable, has flexible access and without huge waiting lists is difficult, so I set up my own. This is where I work, and I rent spaces out to other emerging artists, hopefully removing some of the barriers I faced when starting out.

“There are so many creatives in Edinburgh but it’s easy to feel isolated working from home or working on your own in a studio. At Nook & Cranny Studios, creatives get their own dedicated workspace surrounded by creative peers in a supportive community environment. We can help each other navigate opportunities and trends or explore new markets.”

Darren is now busy creating more products for the Tea Green Markets, which he says play a crucial role in the growth and profile of his business: “For the first three or four years, I sold exclusively online, crafting small-batch items while juggling a full-time job.

“During this time, my partner, Chiara Celini, was already showcasing her art at Tea Green Markets and I would help with her stall from time to time, soaking up the experience and slowly building the confidence I needed to launch my own market stall.

“For me, Tea Green Markets were aspirational and I landed my first markets this summer at Kelvingrove and V&A Dundee. These are great events to be a part of, so returning for their festive markets will be wonderful!

“The venues are prestigious and attract customers who appreciate handmade craft and design, which encourages designers to up their game. It feels like many returning customers are part of the Tea Green community as much as the makers are. We get to know our customers and they get to know us.

“They get to learn about the process and see the passion we have for what we do. You can’t always get that across on social media and markets like these allow customers to buy into the maker as much as their products.”

Joanne MacFadyen of Tea Green Markets added, “Darren epitomises all the values of Tea Green – high-quality design and craftsmanship while also working sustainably and collaboratively.

“We applaud everything he’s done to build the creative community in Edinburgh and can’t wait to see him, and all the other designers and makers, at this year’s festive markets.”

Isabella Miller, Director of Audience at National Galleries of Scotland, said, “We can’t wait to welcome the Tea Green makers back to the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh following the amazing success of the summer market.

“Get in the Christmas spirit under the bedazzling stars of the Great Hall, which will be decked out for the festive season! Don’t forget to look up, you may even spot a plane amongst the stars, a subtle nod to our free Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer exhibition upstairs.

“The Portrait gallery is dedicated to exploring various aspects of the Scottish story, so where better to also showcase the talents of the incredible creatives and support small Scottish businesses!

“Pop in and explore the market, and pick up a beautiful hand-crafted gift and don’t forget to enjoy a mince pie in our Cafe!”

For more information about Tea Green Markets and the programme of events, visit https://www.teagreen.co.uk/

National Galleries Scotland: Portrait, Edinburgh (22–23 November),

Eduardo Paolozzi’s Master of the Universe finds its new home outside Scotland’s National gallery

Having lived at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two since the early 2000’s, a triumphant effort has seen the sculpture travel through the city to its new location at the National.

Dr Patricia Allerston, Deputy Director & Chief Curator of European & Scottish Art, National Galleries of Scotland said: ‘We wanted to bring the art outdoors and into the gardens at the National to spotlight that we are a gallery from the moment people arrive in the gardens.

“We wanted it to welcome people in and to show a snapshot of the incredible Scottish art on offer inside. Paolozzi seemed like a perfect choice for this spot, he was very much an artist who looked to the past as well as to the future, which is very much what we are about at the National Galleries of Scotland.

“He was also from Edinburgh, which seemed very fitting as he will now be looking out over the city and facing towards his hometown of Leith.’

Taking two days and extensive pre-planning to move the impressive one tonne sculpture, it called on expertise inside and outside the gallery to make it possible. Requiring the skills of curators, conservators, collections management, specialist movers with specialist kit including a crane and gimble to get the statue in position.

Master of the Universe is based on a famous drawing by William Blake, which shows the scientist Isaac Newton. Paolozzi used the same pose as in the Blake drawing but has mechanised the figure.

The artist also fashioned it to put himself in the picture, creating himself as the sculpture. Interested in the relationship between nature, science and the man made, Paolozzi brought all of this together to create Master of the Universe.

Visit National Galleries Scotland: National to see Master of the Universe and lots of other free art, including the greatest collection of Scottish art in the world.

Portrait Gallery showcase for Edinburgh College of Art designers

Over 40 independent designers will descend on National Galleries Scotland: Portrait in Edinburgh for a showcase of creative talent.

Now in its 11th year, Tea Green Events has become a major platform for independent Scottish designers, drawing thousands of visitors to its markets across the country.

Following the success of Tea Green Events’ markets at National Galleries Scotland: National last year, this is the market’s debut event at the Queen Street venue, taking place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August 2025 (10am-5pm).

This year’s markets will also come to V&A Dundee, Bowhouse in the East Neuk of Fife, Aberdeen Art Gallery and both Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and The Burrell Collection in Glasgow.

Specialising in carefully curated markets within some of Scotland’s most stunning creative spaces, Tea Green Events was launched by Dundee jeweller Joanne MacFadyen in 2014.

Joanne said, “The Portrait is a truly spectacular space and the perfect backdrop to show off the cream of Scotland’s creative talent, including many designers and makers who live and work in and around the capital.

“Due to the large number of tourists visiting Edinburgh at this time, the market will also put Scotland’s design talent on a global stage, where we can showcase the very best of Scottish craftsmanship.

“With everything from jewellery and prints to knitwear and ceramics, these beautiful hand-crafted pieces of work are made by some truly talented individuals who I know are looking forward to this amazing opportunity”.

Amongst the designers and makers preparing to set out their stalls are a number of Edinburgh College of Art graduates, including illustrator and paper artist, Laura Sayers.

Laura commented, “Turning up at a market can sometimes be quite alienating for folk like me who spend a lot of their work life alone, but the community of makers and the customers that come along are always so warm and welcoming.

“It’s been encouraging for me to see my own work looking and feeling at home alongside some of my favourite small businesses who are all making such high-quality, handmade products.

“As a result, I feel spurred on to make more wholehearted work to mirror the high standards of the other artisans, and the markets give me direction and something to aim for, particularly in the slow summer months.

“There’s also something special about that human interaction and living online means that you’re often craving a space for these conversations. I always come away feeling refreshed and excited for what’s next.

“Edinburgh was a beautiful city to study in, and my time at the College of Art really shaped and laid foundations for the work I make today. I’m always more than happy to return to soak up some more inspiration, and the Portrait Gallery has been one of my personal favourite spots for a long time.

“Making it a base for my artwork for a couple of days is a real pleasure.”

National Galleries of Scotland’s Director of Audience, Isabella Miller, said, “We can’t wait to welcome the makers back to the National Galleries of Scotland following the amazing success of the Tea Green market at the National gallery last summer and winter.

“This time around we’re hosting the market in the stunning surroundings of the Portrait gallery in the centre of Edinburgh. Visitors can explore the market under the bedazzling stars in the world-famous Great Hall.

“The decadent and ornate backdrop of the Portrait is the perfect setting for visitors to feel fully enveloped in the spirit of the market. Beautiful hand-crafted designs, in a beautiful hand-crafted building, what’s not to love!

“The Portrait is dedicated to exploring various aspects of the Scottish story, so where better to also showcase the talents of the incredible market creatives and support Scottish businesses. We hope this will offer something a little different for our visitors to enjoy and that people can browse the stalls then explore the art, or pop into the café to relax and enjoy some delicious food.

“There will be something for everyone to discover during a day out at the Portrait.”

Dr Maria Maclennan, Senior Lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art, added, “It’s always wonderful to follow our graduates’ creative journeys as they grow and flourish into confident and established designer-makers.

“Communities and markets like Tea Green are ever-important platforms for our alumni in realising their ambitions, connecting with fellow creatives, and showcasing the breadth, diversity, and quality of work emerging from Scottish art colleges.

“At ECA, we strive to create opportunities for our students locally, nationally, and internationally; however, it is always particularly rewarding when graduates decide to remain in and around Edinburgh, and to further champion and grow Scotland’s vibrant creative landscape and economy.”

For more information about Tea Green Markets and the programme of events, visit:

https://www.teagreen.co.uk/

Opening this weekend: ARTIST ROOMS

Discover a giant 3ft spider and works by the biggest names in modern and contemporary art at National Galleries Scotland Modern: One

National Galleries Scotland: Modern One

Free to visit

Opens 12 July 2025

Discover some of the biggest names in modern and contemporary art at Modern One this Summer with a series of free ARTIST ROOMS displays in Edinburgh, opening this weekend, 12 July 2025.

The national touring collection, cared for jointly by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate, offers the opportunity to see compelling works by pioneering artists of our time. Experience impactful new displays by Louise Bourgeois, Helen Chadwick and Robert Mapplethorpe, each offering distinctive and diverse approaches to the ideas of self-expression, identity, and the complexity of our inner life.

Visitors will encounter Louise Bourgeois’s giant Spider (1994), standing at an impressive three metres high, innovative works by Helen Chadwick, and Robert Mapplethorpe’s striking self-portraits.

Themes in these three exciting ARTIST ROOMS presentations have provided the starting point for a series of new displays across Modern One, showcasing further works from the nation’s magnificent collection.

Explore paintings, drawings, prints and photography by artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Sarah Lucas, Jasleen Kaur, Edvard Munch, Lee Miller and many more! Offering something for everyone, these displays provide a place to think, dream, and reflect.

Explore the works of French-American Louise Bourgeois, one of the most influential artists of her generation whose career spanned eight decades, from the 1930s until 2010.

Her endlessly inventive work, inspired by her own experiences, included paintings and drawings, sculptures using fabric and rubber, and monumental installations.

The display will draw out the ways Bourgeois used art as an act of catharsis, with works exploring selfhood, family connections, motherhood and memory.

Visitors will discover two important works on paper – 10 am is When You Come to Me (2005) and Spirals (2005) – and a rare early painting, made by Bourgeois in 1946-7. Discover her late sculpture Untitled (1996) made when Bourgeois was eighty-five, representing a portrait of the artist’s aging body using clothes and undergarments she had worn during her lifetime.

Be inspired by the radical, sensuous, and often playful works of British artist Helen Chadwick. One of the first women artists to be nominated for the Turner Prize in 1987, her innovative and unconventional use of materials was hugely influential on a younger generation of British artists.

Her death in 1996 at 42 curtailed a career marked by inventive transgression, questioning gender representation and the nature of desire. Early photographic works in this display will explore how she used her own body to consider autobiography, self-knowledge, the cycles of life and familial relationships.

Discover how Chadwick developed her practice to incorporate other matter as stand ins for the body, as found in Self Portrait (1991) and Meat Abstract (1989), both held in Scotland’s collection.

The display will feature Chadwick’s major sculptural installation, Piss Flowers (1991-2), lent by Tate having recently been donated as part of the D.Daskalopoulos Collection Gift.

Throughout all her work Chadwick addressed deeply philosophical questions about the interconnectedness of physical and emotional states, life and death, beauty and decay, and attraction and repulsion.

ARTIST ROOMS features one of the largest and best collections of photographic works by the American Robert Mapplethorpe in existence.

A pioneer of black-and-white photography, within his relatively short career, Mapplethorpe was recognised as one of the most significant fine art photographers of the late 20^th century, making images that both challenge and engage with classical notions of beauty.

The display will focus on a selection of the artist’s iconic self-portraits, demonstrating how Mapplethorpe examined his own persona. Made over a period of more than 10 years, they show the powerful ways Mapplethorpe captured the many facets of his own evolving identity.

Delve into displays showcasing the breadth of Scotland’s modern and contemporary collection as you wander through the rest of Modern One. Come face to face with compelling self-portraits by some of the most well-known international artists of the 20th and 21st century.

Be moved by striking works exploring connection and care, including two works by Turner Prize winning artist Jasleen Kaur acquired in 2024 for the nation. Explore how artists such as Bill Viola, Pablo Picasso, Everlyn Nicodemus, Pat Douthwaite and Don McCullin have addressed personal and collective grief.

Find your moment of pause and reflection in a room pairing contemplative paintings by acclaimed American abstract artist, Agnes Martin (from the ARTIST ROOMS collection) with Shirazeh Houshiary’s 1992 Round Dance series, offering a place of calm.

Dive into Summer with captivating experiences at Modern One. Families can pack a picnic and relax in the stunning grounds surrounding the gallery. On arrival you will be in awe of the spiralling Landform in front of the gallery, designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks.

Pick up a free copy of the sculpture trail for kids or download it before you arrive and enjoy it on your device as you set off to discover sculptural works by major artists including Barbara Hepworth, Joan Miró and Tracey Emin.

A Family Art Basket can be collected for free, packed with everything you need to find, chat and make together – be inspired by the fascinating art both inside and outside the gallery and allow your own creativity to flow.

Lucy Askew, Chief Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art said, ‘We’re delighted that from this July, visitors to Modern One can explore new, free displays from the nation’s collection.

“Art can be a source of insight and delight, helping us make sense of our place in the world. At the heart of these displays will be presentations of works by Louise Bourgeois, Helen Chadwick and Robert Mapplethorpe, featured as part of our ARTIST ROOMS collection.

“All three artists considered deeply what it is to be human, expressing this in dynamic, intriguing and often playful ways. Their art not only reflects shared experiences, bringing attention to the things that connect us, but also offers a window onto different perspectives.

“We hope visitors will be inspired by their vision and creativity, and by the work of the many other impressive and engaging artists featured. There is truly something for all to discover.’

Resistance opens this weekend at the National Galleries of Scotland

National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two

21 June 2025 – 4 January 2026

Tickets £4-£14 Friends go free

Resistance | National Galleries of Scotland

The National Galleries of Scotland’s unmissable summer exhibition, Resistance, opens this weekend, Saturday 21 June.

Conceived by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen the exhibition takes over the whole of Modern Two. Explore how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK, and the powerful role of photography in documenting and driving change. Tickets are on sale now.

Plus, on the first Monday of every month during the exhibition, visitors will be able to pay what they wish, starting from just £2.

Presenting around 200 photographs from a century of activism, Resistance gives a voice to the stories and images from history which have been buried in UK archives until now.

Throughout the exhibition McQueen amplifies underrepresented voices to present a compelling exploration of overlooked histories, shedding light on the forgotten stories that have helped define the course of Britain’s history.

Resistance tours to Modern Two from Turner Contemporary, Margate.

This exhibition will bring together works by renowned photographers such as Vanley Burke, John Deakin, Fay Godwin, Edith Tudor-Hart, David Hurn, Tish Murtha, Humphrey Spender, and Paul Trevor, alongside lesser-known photographers who documented these powerful stories.

Drawing photographs from various archives, collections and image libraries, McQueen has deliberately focused on moments captured before digital cameras became commonplace.

Spanning both floors of Modern Two, Resistance spans from the radical suffrage movement in 1903 to the largest-ever protest in Britain’s history—the Anti-Iraq War Protest in 2003.

The exhibition will also highlight lesser-known events including the hunger marches of the 1930s where thousands of protesters from Scotland and across Britain marched to London, protesting unemployment and poverty. As well as the Blind March of 1920, a pivotal moment in the fight for disability rights.

Visitors will encounter poignant images from demonstrations against environmental destruction, anti-nuclear campaigns and actions advocating for peace.

The exhibition will trace the evolution of environmental movements and highlight a shift from single-issue demonstrations to broader anti-capitalist efforts that paved the way for today’s climate change action.

Including powerful photographs from the 1000-mile march from Faslane Naval Base to Greenham Common in protest against American nuclear weapons being stationed in the UK in 1983.

From Janine Wiedel’s photographs capturing life at Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp to Andrew Testa’s striking depictions of the 1996 protests against the proposed Newbury Bypass in Berkshire, England, Resistance will serve as a testament to the empowering impact of collective action.

It will explore the intersections between movements such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Women’s Liberation Movement, where protests against Section 28 of the Local Government Act brought the LGBTQ+ community together. Connecting historic struggles, the exhibition will also examine the fight against fascism in the 1930s and 1940s.

The exhibition will underscore the ongoing struggle against racism, showing how grassroots movements have consistently confronted oppression throughout history.

A pivotal moment was the Black People’s Day of Action on 2 March 1981, following the house fire at 439 New Cross Road in South East London, that claimed 13 lives.

The photographs that captured the protest powerfully depict this landmark for Britain’s civil rights movement.

Paul Trevor’s series on the Bengali community will further illustrate how the emerging concept of community photography became a form of activism, amplifying the voices of marginalised groups.

Steve McQueen said: “Within the 5 years of developing the exhibition and book with the Turner Contemporary team, it has been an ambition for Resistance to travel to Scotland to be shared with audiences there.

“Resistance explores how people have challenged the status quo—a mission that feels especially urgent in today’s political climate.”

Leila Riszko, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at National Galleries of Scotland said: “We’re enormously proud to platform this compelling selection of works curated by Steve McQueen.

“This is an exciting opportunity to explore the power of photography in documenting the significant yet underrepresented stories of people who’ve helped shape the world we live in today.

“In these divisive times, many of the themes, moments and narratives highlighted in the exhibition continue to have resonance now.

“As a show about resilience, collective power, galvanising for positive change, and inspiring reaction, we hope that Resistance will stimulate discussion with our visitors and invite deeper reflection on those contemporary issues.”

Resistance is curated by Steve McQueen and Clarrie Wallis, with Emma Lewis. Political research is by Sarah Harrison. The exhibition is produced by Tessa Pierce, with assistance from Brittany Crombie. Organised by and originated at Turner Contemporary, Margate, and adapted for presentation at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two.

A major new publication by Steve McQueen was also recently released to coincide with the exhibition. The book was compiled by Steve McQueen and edited by Clarrie Wallis and Sarah Harrison. It is published by Monument Books, a new imprint from Harper Collins.