15 April - 30 October 2026
Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre, Cupar Railway Station, Station Road, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5HX
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Four Paintings, a Scandal and an Angel
RSA Artists in Cupar: Charles Lees, Robert Scott Lauder and Henry Gamley
 
Charles Lees was born in Cupar, Fife in 1800. He became a celebrated artist and served the RSA as its Treasurer for many years. This exhibition at the Cupar Museaum & Heritage Centre tells the story of his background, career and the scandal of his runaway marriage. His heiress wife Elizabeth tells her own story of their journey to Italy in her diary.
 
Four artworks illustrate the Lees story:
A portrait of Charles Lees as a young man by Robert Scott Lauder, RSA, Baberton House the Edinburgh home of his young wife painted by Lees, a self portrait painted in old age and a print of his most famous painting The Golfers at St Andrews Links, 1847.
 
Also in Cupar:
After the First World War the people of Cupar wanted a unique memorial to local men and women who were among the fallen. The Town Council asked the RSA to recommend a sculptor and Henry Snell Gamley RSA, (1865-1928) was selected to undertake the work. His war memorial Angel of Peace was unveiled on 29 April 1922 by Field Marshall Douglas Haig. It sits in a key position in the centre of Cupar.
 
The Museum is open to visitors between April and 31st October. The current hours are on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday between 2.00 and 4.30 pm.
 
Facebook - @CuparHeritageCentre
 
 
 

Banner image: Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre

 

 

  • About Cupar Museum & Heritage Centre

    Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre was established in response to many calls in the town for such a facility. It is located in a former staff cottage at Cupar Railway Station, a historically important building in its own right dating from 1847.The museum tells the story of Cupar through a semi-permanent display and special exhibitions on an annual basis. A separate room is available to create and prepare exhibits and care of the collections. Cupar Heritage is the body responsible for management and operation of the museum, all on a voluntary basis.


    The museum collection was first opened to the public on Doors Open Day in 2011 and had its official opening in 2012.