13 March 2015

The First Minister got a sneak preview of her portrait by artist Gerard M Burns at Bute House this week.

The portrait is part of a wider exhibition “A Brush with Inspiration” for the Scotland Week 2015 launch event in New York on April 7, 2015.  “A Brush with Inspiration” is an exhibition of portraits of inspirational top Scots to celebrate the very best in Scottish talent.

The First Minister said:

I think it is a fantastic painting, put aside what people think of me in the painting – that’s for other people to judge.  Gerard is such an amazing artist and I guess what I was looking at was not just how I look in the painting, although I think it captures me pretty well, but it is all the incredible detail around it from the Raeburn of Niel Gow to some of the intricate details of the surroundings.  It’s just an amazing piece of art and I think it is very, very impressive.

She added:

It’s a bit strange to see myself on canvas but Gerard is such a talented artist and it’s a big honour to be part of this exhibition. I’m very happy with it.

Gerard said:

Proceeds from sales or donations for the paintings will go to The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice fundraising for their new hospice in Bellahouston in Glasgow.