A prestigious annual art exhibition has opened in Ayr.

Scotland's oldest and largest artist-run organisation opened its annual exhibition at the Maclaurin Art Gallery in Ayr last weekend.

The Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) has been hosting its flagship exhibition in the Royal Academy Building in Edinburgh since 1892.

This major event in the Scottish art calendar has only been held outside the capital twice before; once in Glasgow in 1948 and then in Dundee in 2009.

Now marking its 125th year, 'the annual', as it's known, opened on Sunday, November 19, and runs at the historic venue in Rozelle Estate, Ayr. It will run until Sunday, January 24, 2024. 

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The show features around 175 artworks, which includes painting and printmaking, installation, moving image and performance pieces.  

This includes work by 15 recent graduates from all five Scottish art schools, who received awards from the SSA earlier this year following visits to degree shows by SSA selectors in the summer.

Scottish artist collective, CutLog, is also staging a series of moving image works under the theme Viewpoint. 

Around 20 coveted prizes will be awarded to exhibiting artists next week.

Other highlights include new work by Maclaurin patron, Peter Howson and a rarely-seen painting in the collection of South Ayrshire Council by former SSA President Lys Hansen.