Portraits: The gallery first opened in 1889. Pic: © Deadline
A refurbished Scottish gallery has hit its target of 300,000 visitors three months ahead of schedule.
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh reopened in December 2011 after a two-year transformation costing £17.6m.
Directors set a target to get 300,000 people through the doors in the first year after reopening. Prior to refurbishment, the gallery attracted an average of 200,000 visitors each year.
Christopher Baker, director, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have reached this important target so rapidly. It is a measure of the outstanding success of the redeveloped portrait gallery and the appeal of its extraordinary collections that it should have welcomed so many visitors to its exhibitions, displays and great facilities."
The Queen Street gallery, designed by Victorian architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, first opened in 1889 and features portraits of well-known Scots from throughout the ages.
Visitor number 300,000 was Nick Leitch from Edinburgh who was rewarded with lunch in the restaurant and gifts from the shop as well as a tour of the building.
"I came with my wife and kids on the day the gallery reopened last December and we have been regular visitors ever since. It's a wonderful building and a great addition to Edinburgh. It's really on the map now," he said.
