Portrait Gallery chief James draws his career to a close

The National Galleries of Scotland have announced that James Holloway CBE is to retire from his post as director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery at the end of January.

Mr Holloway began his career in Scotland back in 1972 as a research assistant and assistant keeper at the National Gallery of Scotland.

After a period in a similar role at the National Museum of Wales from 1980-1983, he returned to Scotland, joining the Portrait Gallery as deputy keeper.

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In 1997 he followed Dr Duncan Thomson as keeper of the Portrait Gallery, a position later re-titled as director.

Recently he led the highly successful project to refurbish and revitalise the gallery, which reopened on December 1. Since then more than 80,000 visitors have flocked through the doors.

John Leighton, director-general of NGS, said: “James has enjoyed an extraordinarily successful career.

“We are immensely grateful for all that he has achieved in a distinguished career here at the Galleries.”

The National Galleries has appointed Nicola Kalinsky to be the interim director.

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