Tuesday July 21st 2026
Dalkeith Palace will host PhotoDalkeith from 22 August to 27 September
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A landmark photography exhibition celebrating 200 years of Scottish photography will open at Dalkeith Palace this August as part of the Royal Scottish Academy’s bicentenary programme, RSA200: Celebrating Together.
Returning for its third year, PhotoDalkeith has partnered with the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) to present a major exhibition exploring Scotland's rich photographic heritage and the evolution of photography as an art form. The exhibition is the principal photography showcase within the nationwide RSA200 celebrations.
Drawing on the RSA’s Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland, the exhibition traces the development of photography across two centuries. Historic works are shown alongside pieces from artists’ studios and new commissions created specifically for the exhibition by Calum Colvin RSA, Caroline Douglas, and Irvine & Spence.
Calum Colvin RSA, one of the exhibition’s curators, said:
“We are delighted to present this exhibition at Dalkeith Palace, which traces the evolution of photography from its pioneering beginnings to the present day through works by Royal Scottish Academy Academicians, treasures from the RSA Collections, and RSA award-winning artists and photographers.”
Photography has been closely connected to the RSA since the nineteenth century, beginning with the pioneering artistic experiments of founding Academician David Octavius Hill. Over the decades, the Academy has championed photography through its collection, awards programmes and the election of leading photographers as Academicians.
As in previous years, photography from the Buccleuch Collection provides a strong sense of place. In Time Marches On, Walter Dalkeith captures the enduring beauty of China’s Huangshan mountains.
Open from Friday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm, from 22nd August to 27th September, the exhibition extends beyond the Palace walls with large-scale outdoor photographic installations and interactive photo frames throughout Dalkeith Country Park, inviting visitors to create their own memories alongside the exhibition experience.
Throughout 2026, the RSA is celebrating its 200th anniversary with more than 120 partners, galleries and cultural institutions across Scotland. RSA200: Celebrating Together brings communities together through exhibitions, events and performances, with PhotoDalkeith RSA200 serving as a major highlight of the programme.
One of the pieces of photography on display
Sandy Wood, RSA Head of Collections, said:
“For its bicentenary in 2026, RSA200: Celebrating Together has brought together more than 120 partners to celebrate the Royal Scottish Academy and its impact on Scottish art and culture. The project has forged new collaborations, created new art and reached new audiences, helping us imagine how the RSA can play an even greater role in Scotland’s visual culture in the future.
“For RSA200, we are delighted to be partnering with PhotoDalkeith to present a major survey of Scottish photography within an RSA context. From the early experiments of RSA founding Academician David Octavius Hill to the contemporary photography of today’s RSA Academicians and award winners, the history of photography is intimately connected to that of the Royal Scottish Academy.”
Presented in partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy and Studies in Photography, PhotoDalkeith RSA200 takes visitors on a journey through the history of Scottish photography, from the groundbreaking calotypes of Hill & Adamson to contemporary documentary practice, showcasing how the medium continues to capture Scotland’s people, places and stories.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors can enjoy a curated programme of special events, proudly supported by BTO Solicitors LLP, celebrating the connections between photography, art, music and literature.
Highlights include Ian Hamilton Finlay: Concrete as an ART FORM (6th September), a double bill of film and live performance featuring The Boat in the Writing Room (2025) and a live performance by acclaimed Dada Interpreter and pianist Florian Kaplick; Ruskin Live (13th September), where Paul O’Keeffe recreates John Ruskin’s provocative 1853 Edinburgh lecture; Orkney Sequence (20th September), bringing together Victoria Crowe’s paintings and music by Orkney-based composer Gemma McGregor in a premiere performance by the Hebrides Ensemble; and Hill and Adamson: Pioneers of Photography (26th September), featuring a conversation between publisher Alexander Hamilton, author Sara Stevenson and artist Caroline Douglas celebrating Scotland's pioneering photographers. Followed by a tour of the exhibition.
Charlotte Rostek, Dalkeith Palace & Country Park, said:
“PhotoDalkeith continues to grow each year, and this year we’re delighted to have partnered with the Royal Scottish Academy for their bicentenary celebrations. Using the historic Palace to showcase 200 years of photography, including newly created contemporary work, creates an exciting dialogue with the RSA Collection.
“Alongside world-class photography, visitors can experience the unique heritage of Dalkeith Palace and Country Park, enjoy our pop-up café, explore the woodland and parkland, or visit Restoration Yard. The exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity to discover everything this special place has to offer.”
PhotoDalkeith is an innovative partnership exhibition that aims to establish Dalkeith Palace as a showcase for historic and contemporary photography in Scotland. By connecting the heritage setting of Dalkeith Palace with a medium in which Scotland played a pioneering role, the festival has explored themes of heritage, diversity and artistic innovation.
Over the past three years, PhotoDalkeith has engaged local and international audiences, creating space for established and emerging voices while celebrating photography in all its forms.
Set within Dalkeith Country Park, just 20 minutes from Edinburgh city centre, PhotoDalkeith RSA200 combines nationally significant cultural content with one of Scotland’s most distinctive heritage destinations, where visitors can also enjoy woodland walks, adventure play, shopping and dining.
The exhibition is expected to attract photography enthusiasts, arts audiences, local families and visitors to Edinburgh and Midlothian, offering an accessible and affordable cultural experience during late summer and early autumn, with admission priced at just £3.
PhotoDalkeith RSA200 opens to the public on 22nd August and runs weekly from Friday to Sunday until 27th September 2026.
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