Billionaire philanthropist makes significant donation of Scottish art to Renfrewshire

Major donation of Scottish artworks boosts Renfrewshire’s civic collection

A magnificent collection of artworks has been donated to Renfrewshire’s civic collection by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, in memory of her late husband, John Shaw.

Glasgow-born, Mr Shaw forged an international career with thread company, Coats Viyella and was a keen collector of Scottish art.  

In tribute to her husband’s strong ties to Coats and his enduring connection to Paisley, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Limited and one of India’s leading philanthropists, has donated a selection of Scottish artworks from his personal collection to Paisley Museum.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said: “John was a proud Scot and his career at Coats was foundational in shaping his life. She added: “Wherever in the world he went, his collection of Scottish art allowed him to carry a part of his homeland with him. I hope these works will now bring that same sense of connection and inspiration to those who visit the Paisley Museum “

John Shaw was a passionate art collector with a particular love for Scottish art. His collection, built over many years, reflects his deep admiration for Scotland’s artistic heritage and its vibrant contemporary scene. He regularly visited artists’ studios and supported many living Scottish painters by acquiring their work and championing their careers.

He was also a respected figure in international business, known for his leadership roles at Biocon Limited and Coats, where he began his career after graduating from the University of Glasgow. Rising swiftly through the ranks, he became a top-level executive at Coats, the global textiles company that has long been an integral part of Paisley’s industrial heritage.

The donation of 16 paintings includes some of the giants of Scottish art history such as portrait painter Henry Raeburn, and James Paterson, one of the much-loved ‘Glasgow Boys’ who came to prominence at the end the 1800s. 

OneRen’s curator of art, Dr Victoria Irvine, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for this wonderful donation. John Shaw certainly had a good eye and his collection represents many prestigious Scottish painters. This acquisition will help us tell the story of Scottish art in the years ahead.”

John Shaw was a former finance and managing director of Coats Viyella and chairman and managing director of its Indian operations in the 1990s. Coats Viyella emerged from textile giant J&P Coats which was based in Paisley and was once the third-largest company in the world. 

Dr Irvine added: “His family’s personal connection to the area’s textile heritage makes this gift even more meaningful.” 

John Shaw died in 2022 aged 73 after a short illness. His wife Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the billionaire founder of biopharmaceutical firm Biocon and is a valued financial donor to Paisley Museum. The donation will come as no surprise to those who knew John. He was a passionate collector of art, particularly of works by his fellow Scots, and he delighted in sharing his enthusiasm with others – sometimes gifting paintings to friends.

Most of the works being donated are from the late 1800s, but the paintings span dates from the late 1700s to the late 1900s. The collection features landscapes, portraits and some glimpses into domestic life – including a charming work by Erskine Nicol entitled Removing the skelf.

The earliest works are two portraits by Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) whose subjects included senior figures from the British armed forces. His Three-quarter seated portrait of an officer of the Madras Artillery, is particularly poignant given John Shaw’s deep family connections to India. 

Paisley Museum is currently undergoing a multi-million pound transformation. The newly acquired collection will be available for public viewings at Paisley’s Secret Collection – the UK’s only publicly accessible museum store based on a high street – once the museum and the store both reopen. Museum staff will be researching the works for potential new displays in the future

Dr Irvine added that she was interested to see where the research would lead as the museum continues to explore Scotland’s involvement in the British Empire. She said: “We’re working incredibly hard to create a world-class museum and these works will complement Renfrewshire’s fantastic civic collection. This hugely generous donation will benefit current and future generations. They will add to our shared understanding of Scottish art history and the Raeburns in particular will allow us to tell global stories about Scotland and the UK.”

Main construction work on the refurbishment of Paisley Museum is expected to be complete later this year, and will be followed by significant work to fit-out the exhibition displays before objects can then be installed before opening in 2026.

The refurbishment is Scotland’s biggest cultural capital project and comes as part of a once-in-a-generation investment to bring new life to Paisley and Renfrewshire through investment in key cultural venues.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, the Chair of OneRen, and Renfrewshire Council’s spokesperson on culture, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for this generous donation. John Shaw was part of Paisley’s past industrial success, and now he will be very much embedded in its future cultural regeneration. We’re sure that our magnificent museum will be something of which he and his family can be truly proud and we’re delighted to be able to associate ourselves with the Mazumdar-Shaw family.”