A major exhibition of rarely seen works by Scottish painter John Bellany has opened at the John Gray Centre in Haddington, East Lothian. Curated by his widow Helen Bellany and Alexander Moffat RSA, the show features early and lesser-known pieces, many never publicly displayed before. It runs until September 19 as part of the Royal Scottish Academy's RSA200: Celebrating Together project, marking the RSA's 200th anniversary. Loans come from the Bellany estate, Alexander Moffat's private collection, East Lothian Council Museums Service, and the Royal Scottish Academy.
The exhibition matters because it brings to light previously unknown works by one of Scotland's most significant 20th-century artists, reinforcing Bellany's deep ties to East Lothian and his influence on Scottish art. By staging the show in his home region rather than a major urban gallery, the RSA200 project demonstrates how institutional anniversaries can be used to connect world-class art with local communities. It also underscores the enduring relevance of Bellany's emotionally charged, symbolist depictions of coastal life.