Selections from the Permanent Collection: Painting and Sculpture

This exhibition brings together a selection of painting and sculpture from the Scottish Borders Council’s museum and gallery permanent art collection. This eclectic collection of prominent Scottish art which includes paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, photographs and sculptures, dating from 1800 to present day is cared for an administered by the Live Borders museum, gallery and archive team on behalf of Scottish Borders Council.

The collections earliest works is a group of civic portraits as well as Border landscapes. Over the years the collection has grown steadily through donations, bequests, and gifts, as well as purchases. The Glasgow Boys are represented, as are the Scottish Colourists within the collection.

The best-known artists of the 20th century including Tom Scott, Bernat Klein, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and Anne Redpath, all have works within the permanent collection. Featured post-war artists include Elizabeth Blackadder and John Bellany. Our contemporary collection includes artists such as Calum Colvin, Peter Howsen, Liz Douglas and Jake Harvey. Viewed in its entirety, the collection provides a broad overview of Scottish art.

The oldest part of the Fine Art collection is the civic collection, featuring artworks relating to many of the Scottish Borders most notable citizens. At its core is a group of portraits depicting many of the Border town’s most notable Lord Provosts dating from as early as the 19th century.

At the start of the 20th century, artists in Scotland responded to the latest creative currents from a uniquely Scottish perspective. They did not have a unified style but their ability to approach traditional subjects in new ways became a defining characteristic of their work. This helped some Scottish artists to earn an international reputation. The paintings on display show that between 1900 to 1945 Scotland was a place where various types of contemporary art could develop and thrive.