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"A bold, vibrant and captivating large-scale painting of Scottish music icon, Horse McDonald, will enter Scotland's national collection and go on display at the heart of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (SNPG) in the Great Hall. 
 
This compelling oil painting by artist Roxana Halls, captures Horse’s charismatic and enthralling performance style, beloved by her fans. As part of the creative process of the portrait sitting, Horse sang her best-loved song ‘Careful’, live and acapella for the artist in her London studio. This experimental session resulted in a portrait which, rather than depicting one specific pose, is an amalgam of all the live moments, mannerisms and movements Halls witnessed while Horse performed and which she felt best encapsulated her sitter. 
Horse McDonald, born in Newport-on-Tay in Fife, has been writing and performing for over thirty years, during which time she has built up a reputation as an iconic and unique singer-songwriter. She is one of Scotland’s most
celebrated performers and has released nine albums; Q magazine described her as owning ‘one of the finest voices of modern times, soul and intelligence combined.’ She has opened for and toured with international artists including Tina Turner, BB King, Bryan Ferry and Burt Bacharach.  She changed her name over thirty-five years ago. The singer feels that her distinctive name simultaneously reflects both strength and softness.

 
Her critically acclaimed one-woman autobiographical play ‘Careful’ details stories from her life, including growing up gay in Lanark in the 1970s. It debuted at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it won a Voice Magazine Pick of the Fringe award and many 5 star reviews. In 2017, Horse was one of the inductees into the Saltire Society Outstanding Women of Scotland community. At the SSE Scottish Music Awards in 2017, she received the Reo Stakis /Nordoff Robbins award for her service to music. She was awarded the DIVA Magazine ‘Hall of Fame’ Award in 2018, in recognition of her life and work. She is a proud ambassador for the music charity Nordoff Robbins.
 
Commenting on having her portrait painted and how she feels to be part of the National Galleries of Scotland collection, Horse said: ‘I was incredibly flattered and grateful to have my portrait painted by Roxana. We spent a lot of time talking and sharing our experiences, finding so much in common in our work and lives. The journey which brought us together and then, in turn, the fates that continued for the portrait to then be acquired for the SNPG, is nothing short of magical.  
 
“I was both shocked and thrilled when I saw the painting because not only has it captured the energy and the passions of the ‘me’ I feel inside, but it is very much a Roxana Halls painting. I cannot find the words to express my pride, honour and privilege to be on display amongst our nation’s peers and generations of dignitaries. This is something I could never, ever have envisaged. I am most humbled at the thought of children seeing my portrait, in such a setting and finding some inspiration and courage from it.” 
 
Artist Roxana Halls said about Horse: ”I can hardly recall a time when I wasn't aware of her, not only as a much-admired vocalist and songwriter, but also as a lodestar for the LQBTQ community. When I finally had the opportunity to see her in concert I was struck by the combination of a fearlessness and charisma I had anticipated, with a rare tenderness, which I had not – a tension which I hoped to capture in this portrait”
 
Imogen Gibbon, Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Portraiture at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “I’m thrilled that the National Galleries of Scotland have acquired this portrait of Horse and truly excited for our audiences, and Horse’s fans, to experience this stunning portrait in the Great Hall at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.” 

Scottish National Portrait Gallery press release 2020