Sandy Nairne

Before coming to the National Trust, Sandy served as the Director for the National Portrait Gallery from 2002 to 2015. During this time he helped grow the museum’s appeal and relevance, and deepened the creative partnership between the National Portrait Gallery and the National Trust with collaborative projects at Beningbrough Hall and Montacute House.

Sandy has previously worked as Director of Programmes at the Tate, and has served on various arts and charity advisory groups ranging from the Fourth Plinth Selection Committee, to the Maggie's Art Group supporting Maggie’s cancer care centres. He also chairs the Fabric Advisory Committee of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Outside of this work, Sandy is a curator and writer whose recent books include Art Theft and the Case of the Stolen Turners, and an edited volume of his father’s writings: The Coincidence of Novembers. He's currently co-authoring a biography of Lord Desborough.