National Galleries of Scotland has been slammed after it emerged that a convicted sex offender is still being featured on its official website weeks after being jailed.
Former SNP Equalities Officer Cameron Downing, 24, was found guilty of 10 charges of assault, sexual assault and domestic abuse against five women and two men last month at Edinburgh High Court and jailed for six years.
He denied the majority of the charges against him but was found guilty by a jury.
Downing’s portrait was once on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in 2022 and remains prominently displayed on the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) website despite his conviction.
A trigger warning has been added to the page as it “references cases of sexual assault which you may find distressing”.
Critics say they are furious that Downing’s picture is still being “platformed” and insist it sends the wrong message to the predator’s victims.
On Tuesday Scottish Conservative shadow constitution, external affairs and culture secretary Meghan Gallacher MSP called for the photograph to be removed from the website.
She said: “Serious questions must be asked as to why this individual is still being featured on the website of the National Galleries of Scotland.
“He has been convicted of several serious assaults and a trigger warning will be of little comfort to his victims.”
Ms Gallacher added: “The most appropriate thing for the National Gallery to do would be to remove this image from their website as soon as possible.”
Caroline McAllister, of the campaign group Women Won’t Wheesht, said they were “surprised and disgusted that the National Galleries of Scotland continue to platform this sex offender’s picture”.
She added: “By doing so they’re sending the message to Downing’s victims that their ordeal at the hands of this sexual predator is of no consequence to them nor do they have any concern for their well being.
“Their decision to showcase Downing on their website implies ‘art’ takes precedence over any care towards the victims and wider society. Surely out of respect for the victims and disgust at Downing’s deviant behaviour they would be eager to remove any reference of him from their website.
“By adding a trigger warning they are confirming they’re aware the picture has the potential to cause hurt, fear and alarm to all victims of sexual abuse. Why can’t those at the Galleries… do the decent thing and delete all reference to Downing?”
Fiona McAnena, of campaign group Sex Matters, also condemned the NGS.
She said: It’s alarming that the National Galleries of Scotland website is still displaying a portrait of a convicted sex offender. If it’s not fit for display in the gallery, then why is it on the website?
“A ‘trigger warning’ is insulting to his victims, and all victims of sexual violence. Is this a sign of conflict within the organisation? Are those in control of the website determined to defend and celebrate him?”
Downing, a man who self-identifies as non-binary and elects to use he/they pronouns, is seen in a photograph taken by photographer Craig Waddell as part of his series ‘Masc’.
The webpage acknowledges that Downing was “convicted of 10 charges and sentenced to a custodial term of six years”.
Gallery bosses state: “Although part of the collection, this portrait of Cameron Downing is not on display at any of our galleries and has not been since 2022. There are no plans for this work to go on display”.
According to the website, the picture is in storage but its inclusion on the website means that, while no longer on public display in a gallery, it is available to an international audience far larger than would have been seen during its period on view.
A spokesperson from the National Galleries of Scotland said: “We have been closely monitoring the legal proceedings against Cameron Downing, and our deepest sympathy is with the victims of these horrific crimes.
“This portrait has not been on display in any of our galleries since the closure of the exhibition Counted | Scotland’s Census 2022. Although part of the national collection, we do not plan to exhibit it in our galleries in the future.
“Since the conclusion of legal proceedings last month, we have been looking at the online record for this artwork. This has been updated to include an advisory warning, and to reflect that Cameron Downing was convicted of 10 charges including assault, sexual assault, and domestic abuse, and sentenced to a custodial term of six years.”
The spokesperson added: “While we have a duty to include works from the collection on our website, we will continue to give thought and consideration to this.”
Downing was previously pictured with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
