The 58 paintings and drawings were allocated through the UK government's Acceptance in Lieu scheme and significantly strengthen the national collection's holdings of early 20th-century Scottish art. Works by William McCance, James Cowie, Edward Baird and William Crosbie spotlight the pioneering artists who studied and taught at Scotland's art schools, alongside British surrealist-associated figures Cecil Collins and John Tunnard. More than 20 of the works are currently on free display at Modern One in Edinburgh. The acquisition is described as transformative for the representation of modern Scottish art in the national collection.