W. Gordon Smith Award

An exhibition of successful entries to the W. Gordon Smith Award Competition in association with Scotland on Sunday with prize money totalling £15k, celebrates the life of the distinguished art critic, author, dramatist and film-maker.

W. Gordon Smith’s understanding of how different art forms including poetry, painting, music, theatre and film are interconnected gave his critical writing a special insight and authority. His work as a dramatist proved equally successful with plays such as Jock, Knox and Vincent becoming part of the canon of contemporary Scottish theatre. A pioneer of televised arts programmes in Scotland, his series of films (Scope and Spectrum) for BBC Scotland throughout the late 1960s and 1970s are perhaps his greatest legacy. They now constitute a unique archive of cultural production in 20th century Scotland to be used and enjoyed by future generations.

The progress made by the arts in Scotland over the past 50 years is unmistakeable as is W. Gordon Smith’s contribution. Throughout his life he worked selflessly and tirelessly on behalf of art and artists. This new Competition offers a wonderful opportunity, for all artists, to both celebrate and continue his lifetime’s work.

Entries were invited from artists working in Scotland and Scottish artists working throughout the UK and abroad. Works sold throughout the exhibition are not liable to any commission.

W G Smith Award