Wednesday April 22nd 2026
![Cockenzie Harbour [acrylic on canvas, Cockenzie Harbour by John Bellany]](https://www.midlothianview.com/wp-content/uploads/Cockenzie-Harbour-acrylic-on-canvas-Cockenzie-Harbour-by-John-Bellany.jpg)
'Cockenzie Harbour' acrylic on canvas by John Bellany
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A rare opportunity to see formative and lesser-known works celebrating the life and work of one of Scotland’s most acclaimed painters, John Bellany, has opened at the John Gray Centre, Haddington,
Running from 17 April to 19 September, the exhibition is presented in partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) as part of the flagship project RSA200: Celebrating Together. The exhibition was curated by Helen Bellany and Alexander Moffat RSA, two of the people who knew the artist best.
Born in Port Seton in 1942, John Bellany HRSA (Honorary Member of the Royal Scottish Academy) became a significant figure in 20th century Scottish art and is widely recognised internationally for his bold, emotionally charged works. His deeply rooted connection to Scotland’s east coast fishing communities shaped much of his career, and this exhibition brings his story back to the landscapes and heritage that inspired him.
The exhibition will include works drawn from the Bellany estate, from the private collection of Alexander Moffat RSA, and from East Lothian Council Museums Service, as well as major loans from the Royal Scottish Academy. Many pieces have never been publicly exhibited, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see formative and lesser-known works alongside notable large scale paintings.
Though Bellany lived and worked across the UK and Europe, eventually settling in Tuscany, his ties to East Lothian remained strong throughout his life. His art is represented in over 50 public collections worldwide and he was awarded numerous honours, including a CBE (1994) and election to the Royal Academy (1991). In 2005, he was named the first Freeman of East Lothian.
Bellany’s work remains celebrated for its emotional intensity, symbolism, and exploration of human vulnerability. His ability to fuse personal experience with the collective identity of his home communities has earned him an enduring place in Scotland’s cultural history and international art circles.
The exhibition will be open on Thursdays & Fridays 10am to 1pm and 2-5pm and Saturdays 10am to 1pm and 1.30-4pm at the John Gray Centre, 15 Lodge Street, Haddington. Admission is free. There will be a series of special events and talks throughout the exhibition so check the John Gray Centre website and social media for more information.
Throughout 2026 the Royal Scottish Academy, the oldest artist-run institution in Scotland, is celebrating its 200th birthday. RSA200: Celebrating Together is a major partnership project involving more than 100 partners. Cultural organisations across Scotland and beyond are coming together to celebrate two centuries of Scottish art and architecture. Exhibitions, performances, talks and special events are being led by partners in museums, galleries, universities and community spaces throughout the year. RSA200: Celebrating Together is supported by funding from Museums Galleries Scotland.
Kate Maynard, East Lothian Council’s Team Manager – Museums, said:
“We are incredibly proud to host this landmark exhibition at the John Gray Centre. John Bellany is one of East Lothian’s most celebrated sons and his influence on Scottish art is immeasurable. This exhibition not only honours his legacy but strengthens the vital connection between our local communities and the internationally significant art created here.”
Exhibition curator Alexander Moffat RSA said:
“No matter where he travelled in the world John Bellany never forgot his upbringing in Port Seton and the East Lothian seascapes that inspired so much of his work. I’m sure he would have regarded the exhibition in the John Gray Centre as a very special homecoming.”
Sandy Wood, Head of Collections, Royal Scottish Academy, said:
“RSA200: Celebrating Together has given the opportunity to bring great artists, who are connected to the Royal Scottish Academy and the story of art in Scotland, to communities all over our country. It is most fitting that the life and art of John Bellany HRSA, one of Scotland’s very best painters of the late twentieth century and one of East Lothian’s most famous artist sons, is celebrated at the John Gray Centre in an exhibition curated by Helen Bellany and another Academician and lifelong friend of Bellany’s, Alexander Moffat RSA. Art can bring people, communities, and stories together and Bellany’s upbringing in Port Seton and the local subjects he favoured connect him intimately to the life and stories of East Lothian. Through RSA200 and beyond, the RSA is delighted to support local venues like the John Gray Centre bring the best art to wider audiences across Scotland.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
