AN ARTIST who created a sculpture of the “greatest Scot” has been recognised in the Scottish Parliament.

Natasha Phoenix, who lives near Gifford, created the work of art recognising the achievements of Elsie Inglis.

During the First World War, the Scottish doctor, surgeon and teacher set up more than a dozen hospitals for injured soldiers across Europe.

Earlier this month, the artist handed over the work of art to the Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Edinburgh.

It will eventually go on to find a permanent home in the Fellows Playfair corridor.

Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, marked the occasion by lodging a motion in the Scottish Parliament to recognise the work of the artist, who lives near Gifford.

The motion, which has been backed by more than a dozen of his Holyrood colleagues, including Martin Whitfield, South Scotland MSP, reads: “That the Parliament congratulates Natasha Phoenix, of East Lothian, on the inclusion of her sculpture of Dr Elsie Inglis in the Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Edinburgh; commends the artist’s commitment and tenacity in creating this bronze sculpture, as well as raising the profile of Dr Elsie Inglis, and commends the Surgeons’ Hall Museums for committing to the permanent exhibition of the sculpture of this exceptional and ground-breaking female surgeon, creator of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals and the hospital for women and children in Edinburgh, prior to her death in 1917.”

Natasha, 48, sculpted Elsie in clay before making a mould using silicone and plaster.

A cold cast bronze was created in the mould and the work was finished off with a patina.

The mum-of-four highlighted the work of her subject and said: “I think Elsie Inglis is our greatest Scot. Not only did she devote her entire life to helping others but she used her privileged status to raise money to help our poorest and most vulnerable. The hospital for women and children in Edinburgh was run by a completely female staff and served the most needy in the city.

“It really was the start of modern maternity care in the western world.

“She also opened a milk bank to assist those who couldn’t breastfeed, saving countless babies from death and TB.

“Of course, she funded, then created, the Scottish Women’s Hospitals during the First World War and saved countless lives.

“In many Baltic countries, she’s actually very well celebrated and is revered in Serbia for all of the amazing work she did.

“She was an ardent feminist, a suffragist and apparently one of the kindest people you could meet.

“We talk now about understanding our privilege; well, Elsie Inglis understood her privilege over 100 years ago!”