Mary looks elegant in her lace collar, but her story is anything but calm! She was imprisoned and executed by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

 Fun fact: Mary was only a teenager herself when she became queen — imagine having that much responsibility at 18! 

Here’s the prince who led the Jacobite rebellion! He looks brave and confident in his tartan and armour. 

Fun fact: this portrait was painted in Rome — Ramsay never met him during the uprising! The image helped spread Charlie’s heroic legend across Europe. 

Scotland’s national poet looks cool and thoughtful in this portrait. He wrote poems in Scots that are still read today, like Auld Lang Syne. 

Fun fact: Burns didn’t have much money — this portrait was meant to make him look more sophisticated than his real life! 

The famous novelist of Ivanhoe and Waverley sits calmly, wrapped in a gold cloak. He helped make Scotland popular with tourists in the 1800s! 

Fun fact: Scott basically invented “Scottish style” — he helped revive tartan fashion and Highland pride through his books and public events. 

A modern pop-art-style portrait of the Scottish actress known for Doctor Strange and The Chronicles of Narnia. Peyton paints her with delicate, dreamy colours. 

Fun fact: Swinton studied at Cambridge but chose acting over politics — and she’s one of the few people to win both film and art awards! 

Scotland’s funniest comedian painted by his long-time friend, artist John Byrne. Connolly wears a colourful jacket covered in symbols of his life — banjos, jokes, and love hearts. 

Fun fact: the painting was made to celebrate his 75th birthday, and Connolly helped choose the jacket himself!