Young Scottish artists grace ministerial walls

Paintings by a young Scottish artist have joined artworks by established names such as John Houston and John Bellany as ministers have taken their picks from Britain's Government Art Collection.

Two paintings by Aberdeen-born Bryony Anderson, who graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2005, hang in the offices of David Lidington, Europe Minister. They were bought for less than 1,000 in 2009.

Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore, opted for more traditional works, including watercolour landscapes of Edinburgh Castle and Melrose Abbey, from the 18th and 19th centuries. His parliamentary undersecretary, David Mundell, chose 20th-century works by Houston, Bellany, and William Gillies.

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The Labour MP Tom Watson revealed the artistic choices of new ministers since May, installed in their offices at a cost of nearly 20,000.

UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt opted for the likes of recent Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger and transvestite potter Grayson Perry while his undersecretary, Ed Vaizey, chose works by Tracey Emin.

Chancellor George Osborne picked a large painting by artist and nonsense poetry writer Edward Lear. It was bought for just 55 in the 1950s but would be valued at tens of thousands of pounds today.

Lord Marland, junior minister for energy and climate change, picked a Billboard for Edinburgh by the artist known as Bob and Roberta Smith. It declares: "Bring Back Edinburgh's Trams."