Portrait of Scotland rugby legend Doddie Weir unveiled in Edinburgh

A painting of Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir has gone on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh to mark the start of this year's Six Nations championships.

The picture, by Gerard Burns, shows the former Scotland star - who's battling Motor Neurone Disease - in his distinctive blue and yellow tartan, with the Eildon Hills in the background.

It has already raised over £80,000 for Doddie's Foundation after being auctioned last year before being gifted back to the Weir family with a note saying: ‘To Doddie with love from your rugby friends in Hong Kong, to always remember the Daft Yin’s passion and inspiration in seeking a cure for MND’.

The artwork will be accompanied by a plaque naming all those who made contributions during the auction of the painting.

It will be shown in the Great Hall for the duration of the rugby championship, after which it will feature in The Modern Portrait, an exhibition which includes portraits of notable Scottish figures such as Alan Cumming, Susie Wolff, Ewen Bremner and Tilda Swinton.

Speaking ahead of its unveiling this evening (Wednesday), Doddie said: "It is a great honour to have Gerard's painting on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, among so many notable and notorious Scots. I have had a great deal of fun in Hong Kong over the years and the support of the Scottish and rugby communities there has been incredible since I shared my diagnosis.

"I would like to thank everyone involved for their contribution and especially Gerard for doing such a fine job with the limited source material! And a big thank you to the National Galleries of Scotland for including the painting in their fine collection.”

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