Norman MacCaig belonged to a generation of outstanding Scottish poets. He was a friend of Hugh MacDiarmid and Sorley Maclean and a mentor to a younger generation of writers. MacCaig wrote in English rather than Scots, his plain words revealing the magical aspects of everyday life and the beauty of the landscapes of Assynt in the Highlands. This bronze bust was made shortly after the poet's death. Its organic form suggests that MacCaig's head is either emerging from, or returning to, primary matter.