After serving in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, Callum Macdonald set up as a newsagent and stationer. This led to a career in printing and publishing for which he is best known. In 1953 he took over the publication of ‘Lines’, a newly-founded poetry magazine which, relaunched as ‘Lines Review’, became a vital part of the Scottish literary scene over many decades. Victoria Crowe painted this portrait at the sitter's home in Innerleithen. On the right, the artist has included a reproduction of a portrait of Hugh MacDiarmid. The original was drawn by Sydney Goodsir Smith and owned by Norman MacCaig. The image neatly unites several of the literary figures whose career had been advanced by Macdonald.