Arts of Independence: VIEWPOINT S.

ALEXANDER (SANDY) MOFFAT RSA is an artist and teacher. Many of his paintings grace the walls of Scotland's National Portrait Gallery, including the well-known Poet's Pub and other portraits of significant Scottish writers. Born in Dunfermline in 1943, he studied painting at Edinburgh College of Art. He was the Director of New 57 Gallery of Edinburgh 1968-78, later joining the staff of Glasgow School of Art, where he became Head of Painting 1992-2005. ALAN RIACH is currently the professor and Chair of Scottish Literature, University of Glasgow. He was born in Airdrie in 1957, and studied English at Cambridge Universi-ty 1976-79. He completed his PhD in the Department of Scottish Literature at Glas-gow University in 1986. His academic career has included positions as a post-doctoral research fellow, senior lecturer, Associate Professor and Pro-Dean - Faculty of Arts, University of Waikato, New Zealand 1986-2000.