AFTER years of teaching at the Edinburgh College of Art, William Baillie had a wonderful image of himself in retirement. ''A comfortable dressing-gown and sherry in hand - a real Noel Coward,'' he recalls, wistfully.
It was not to be. Just when he thought he was safe, came one of those honours not to be spurned, even though it meant wearing garb unsuited for cosy nights.
''For special occasions we wear a maroon robe and tunic, and look just like medieval monks,'' reveals the president of the Royal Scottish Academy. ''Originally, the academicians also wore breeches, stockings and buckled shoes, but it's just the tunic now.'' Hong Kong isn't being treated to the splendid sight, but there's generous compensation: works by 24 of Scotland's leading contemporary artists, led by Baillie.
All but sculptor Michael Snowden are painters, but there the similarity ends. ''An amazing range of talent,'' says Juliet Macauley of Edinburgh's Gallery 41, organiser of the exhibition which opened at the Hilton Hotel and is now being presented for public viewing by local art dealers Dickins and Rigg.
Backed by the Royal Bank of Scotland subsidiary Capital House, which recently won a major British award for sponsoring an exhibition of portraits and miniatures from the Queen's collection, it's the biggest display of modern Scottish art ever held in Hong Kong.
And what a display. Showing along with renowned names such as David Mitchie, Tom Shanks, Jack Knox and Sir Robin Philipson, are exciting young talents such as Mike Forbes, 24, self-taught and hugely popular.
Forbes' startling surrealism, Knox's lush still lives, Shanks' dramatic landscapes, Ingebjor Smith's zany people - there's no easy categorisation.