Faculty of Advocates unveils new portrait of Lord Penrose

Scottish artist Keith McIntyre RSA with the portrait of Lord Penrose.

THE Faculty of Advocates has welcomed a significant new addition to its historic art collection with the acquisition of a portrait of the late George William Penrose, Lord Penrose (1938 - 2025).

The portrait was unveiled at a reception held at Parliament House last week.

The work, painted around 1994 by the celebrated Scottish artist Keith McIntyre RSA, was generously donated to Faculty by Lord Penrose’s children – Jane Robinson, Susan Brown, and David Penrose.

Friends, colleagues, members of Faculty and guests gathered to mark the portrait’s arrival and to reflect on Lord Penrose’s influential career and enduring legacy. Mr McIntyre also attended the event, offering personal insights into the creation of the painting.

Lord Penrose had a distinguished legal career spanning six decades. He called to the Bar in 1964, became Queen’s Counsel in 1978, and served in the Crown Office between 1988 and 1990. Later in 1990, he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice. In 1994 he became Scotland’s first commercial judge, a role well suited to his background as a chartered accountant. He also chaired two major public inquiries: the 2004 Equitable Life Inquiry and the 2015 Contaminated Blood Inquiry (Scotland).

The portrait reflects Lord Penrose’s long‑standing passion for art, particularly his interest in wood carving and in reimagining natural forms. Mr McIntyre drew inspiration from a tour of Faculty’s portrait collection in Parliament Hall led some years back by Lord Penrose himself. The artist cited the influence of Sir Henry Raeburn’s judicial portraits, especially “the power and potency of the judicial robes, and the vibrancy of red.” These elements are echoed in the portrait’s bold, close‑cropped composition, rich sanguine palette, and emphasis on Penrose’s robes and books.

This work becomes the latest addition to the Faculty of Advocates Art Collection, which spans four centuries from the 1620s to the 2020s, including the nationally significant portraits and sculptures displayed in Parliament Hall and across Faculty’s estate.

"Lord Penrose's portrait is a valuable addition to Faculty's art collection,” said Faculty Treasurer Ruth Crawford KC. “It was a great privilege and pleasure to thank his family in person for their generous donation, and to speak with the artist. We look forward to welcoming them back once the portrait is on display."

Its acquisition underscores Faculty’s commitment to the responsible stewardship and sustainable development of its arts and heritage collections, recognising their ongoing importance to the institution’s visual identity and cultural legacy.