Since the Barbados-born artist slid into number 7 last year, Alberta Whittle has continued to combat colonialism and express the Black experience through her art. The Glasgow-based creator’s major solo exhibition create dangerously is showing at National Galleries Of Scotland: Modern until 7 January. It seems Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun is still making ripples after its initial splash last year. Winning Debut British Writer at this year’s BAFTA Film Awards and scooping up several other gongs, it’s clear Wells is very much still riding that initial wave of success.

Ayrshire’s finest rapper Bemz nabbed another SAY Award nomination for 2023. As well as having the cutest album cover out of the nominees, his third EP Nova’s Dad secured a solid spot on the SAY shortlist. He was also crowned the Sound Of Scotland at the Scottish Music Awards. Fergus McCreadie was the first jazz musician to win Scottish Album Of The Year in 2022 and was the only Scot nominated for last year’s Mercury Prize. But of course, he hasn’t packed away the piano yet. Playing with the incredible corto.alto to promote their debut album Bad With Names, working on his new album due next year, and playing solo improv gigs in Glasgow has no doubt kept McCreadie on his toes.

Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of) won her a 2022 Olivier Award, and after her absurd reading of Austen, Isobel McArthur went to town on RLS’ Kidnapped. Meanwhile, at the Edinburgh Fringe she took Wes Anderson’s aesthetic and kicked up the chaos several notches for The Grand Old Opera House Hotel. Nicola Benedetti has had a hell of a year since snatching second place in 2022’s Hot 100. The award-winning violinist tackled her role as the first woman director of Edinburgh International Festival while continuing to perform. But no one’s been busier than last year’s hottest of the hundred, Ncuti Gatwa. Fife’s fizziest actor released his Kenergy in Barbie and delivered more iconically camp lines as Eric in Sex Education’s final season. Gearing up for his cosmic entrance into the Doctor Who universe as the first Black Doctor, there is no doubt that Gatwa will be fully booked through next year and beyond.