Brian Cox Portrait Unveiled

It was an emotional moment for actor Brian Cox as he unveiled his new portrait in front of family and friends. It also marks the culmination of a weekend of 60th birthday celebrations for the Hollywood star with family in Dundee.

He said: "Today is just the icing on the cake. Well I was...I've seen this in the early stages and I didn't know quite where Iain was going with it but now I see it... and it's truly astonishing, the tones and what he's done, is quite amazing. Everybody remarked it was funny because I've got blue eyes and these are grey, but tonely it's perfect."

The most astonishing thing are my sisters, my elder said said it's so weird to look at the painting because my father had black/brown eyes. She said 'there's your face with your father's eyes.' That's what's so amazing about the painting, it's truly extraordinary." The new portrait is by contemporary artist Iain Clark, and will hang in the National Portrait Gallery in the capitol.

Brian Cox added: "I think Iain has done an astonishing job. I'm completely blown away by it and to see it in its full glory and it's just amazing, just incredible, it really is - to be up there with Murial Gray is an honour indeed!"