Jacqueline Margaret Kay, CBE, FRSE, FRSL (born 1961) is a Scottish poet, playwright and novelist. A former Scots Makar (Scotland’s National Poet), she is one of the most distinguished contemporary writers, celebrated for her many literary publications. She is currently Professor of Creative writing at the University of Newcastle. The artist Clae Eastgate writes:

This portrait of Jackie Kay was born out of the initial sittings for a larger portrait for my series Painting the Poets. I knew as soon as Jackie stood in the way she is depicted here in the portrait that it was exactly right. To me it showed the essence of her - the calm confidence in her stance, with her arms folded like the chief of her clan, wearing her favourite poncho in tartan colours, all reminiscent of her rich heritage. The title is taken from the frequency of the word ‘red’ being used in a number of her works.