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They create award-winning films of everyday life, paintings made from newsprint, art inspired by comic strips and imaginary islands inspired by the real Inner Hebrides.

Six Scottish artists were yesterday unveiled as the representatives of Scotland at the world’s leading art show, the Venice Biennale, which will be staged this summer.

Charles Avery, Henry Coombes, Louise Hopkins, Rosalind Nashashibi, Lucy Skaer and Tony Swain will fill seceral rooms of a 17th century palace in Venice with new contemporary art as part of the 52nd running of the event.

The Scottish show will stand alongside those staged by 65 other countries, who all use the event to promote the riches of their contemporary art scene, attracting nearly a million visitors.

Historically, the most established pavilions, including this year the official British Pavilion – which will showcase the work of Tracy Emin – are in the gardens of the Giardini Pubblici, but the Scottish show will be in the palace in the heart of the city, sharing the site with seven South American countries.

Yesterday the artists chosen to represent Scotland – in its third official ‘independent’ show, since its first in 2003 – said they were delighted to be part of the festival.

The six artists, the biggest group so far representing the country, have different relationships to Scotland: Avery, whose work is inspired by his upbringing in the Highlands and Islands, Is from Oban, and the others have all studied at the Glasgow School of Art, with several based in the city.

Four of the artists are also represented by Doggerfisher, a leading contemporary art gallery in Edinburgh.

Philip Long, the curator of the show, said the presence of Scotland at the Biennale was vital in showing the vibrancy and variety of the contemporary art scene in the country.

‘The art will be diverse, exciting and unpredictable,’ he said.

‘Given the prestige of the event, the attention that other countries give it and the attention it receives from visitors and critics, it really is essential that we are ther.’

Mr. Avery said he was ‘very proud’ to be part of the group, and has already visited the palace where the art will be shown.

‘I am excited about it and my work will be drawings, all inspired by the Western Isles,’ he said.