the Case of the Stolen Turners. Nairne became Director of the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2002. On 12 June 2014 he announced his resignation which took effect in early 2015. He was succeeded by Nicholas Cullinan. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to the arts. Nairne was among those appointed on 29 January 2015 to the Bank of England's Banknote Character Advisory Committee, whose first task would be to decide who should appear on the next £20 banknote. Personal life Nairne's wife is the art historian Lisa Tickner, with whom he has a son, the lighting designer Christopher Nairne, and a daughter, the curator and art historian Eleanor Nairne. His brother, Andrew Nairne, is Director of Kettle's Yard Gallery, Cambridge. His other brother, James Nairne, Andrew's twin, is head of Art at Cranleigh School, Surrey. References External links 1953 births Living people People educated at Radley College Alumni of University College, Oxford English curators English male non-fiction writers English book editors Directors of the National Portrait Gallery, London People associated with the Tate galleries Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London 20th-century English historians 21st-century English historians