The Hand of Burns

This, believe it or not, is the handwriting of the poet, Robert Burns. And quite beautiful it is too. Like a work of art in itself.
It shows the beginning of Burns'' epic poem telling the tale of a farmer called Tam O'Shanter and his dance with the devil - via a right good night - getting 'fou and unco happy' - down the pub in Ayr on market day with his mate, Souter Johnie.
On the way home astride his loyal grey mare, Meg, Tam sees lights a-blaze in Alloway kirkyard... therein lies the drunken ploughman's nemesis!
This original manuscript is currently on display at the Lilie Art Gallery in Milngavie, alongside a collection of paintings by the Scottish artist, Alexander Goudie, which tell the story of Tam.
The paintings are epic. A labour of love which took the artist, who died in 2004, the best part of a decade to complete.
They are in Milngavie on loan to the Lillie from The Goudie Collection at Ayr's Rozelle House (where they normally reside) until 18 March.
Very powerful paintings. Displayed chronologically as the poem travels though to its fiery conclusion...
The frame on the one depicting the most diabolical scene in the poem has a charcoal frame... creepy!!
There's a whole festival taking place in East Dunbartonshire called TAMfest 2015 based around this exhibition of Goudie paintings.
More info here: http://www.edlc.co.uk/pdf/small_TAMfest_Brochure_1_2015_lores.pdf