Alasdair Gray, one of Scotland's most successful and original contemporary writers, is shown posing before the camera with his own self-portrait. He was born in Glasgow where he studied drawing and painting at the School of Art. His first novel 'Lanark' was published in 1981. The critics liked it and compared Gray with James Joyce because of his quirky use of language. Gray was among the campaigners for a Scottish Parliament, and his political writings include 'Why Scots Should Rule Scotland'.