The search for Scotland's next national poet begins in earnest this week, as Liz Lochhead's term as Scots Makar draws to its conclusion.

During her five years in the role Ms Lochhead has engaged with a variety of subjects through her verse including whisky, theatre, politics and Commonwealth Day in 2012.

She has carried out more than 300 public engagements, conducting workshops in schools and prisons as well as representing Scotland in the UK and beyond.

Born in an ex-mining village just outside Motherwell in Lanarkshire, Lochhead's poetry is imbued with a sense of her cultural upbringing, often returning to themes such as friendship, identity and social class to reflect on a society in flux.

More recently, Ms Lochhead's achievements and contribution to society were recognised last year with the award of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, making her only the 11th woman to receive the honour since its inception in 1933, and the eighth Scot.

Never one to shy away from bold public statements, Ms Lochhead was a proud campaigner for Scottish independence during the run-up to the referendum in 2014, performing for pro-independence arts group National Collective at events across the country.

Famously, she even postulated that if Robert Burns had been alive at the time of the vote he would have been a staunch supporter of Scottish independence, stating: "My gut feeling is that (och, just read him!) as a libertarian, a democrat, a lover of freedom and autonomy, a revolutionary and a romantic, of course he'd be voting for independence".

Thanking her for her work, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "Liz Lochhead has brought poetry to every level of society in Scotland without fear or favour. She has brought vitality, warmth, wit and tremendous talent to the role of makar.

"In her time as Scotland's National Poet, Liz has worked astoundingly hard. She has a real conviction that poetry enriches and transforms lives which she bring to everyone she meets.

"Liz's work over the past five years has made a lasting and positive impact on many people, in particular the young students she has worked with, and she has played an ambassadorial role for Scotland.

"It's fitting that last year she was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, chosen by her fellow poets.

"Work is continuing to find Liz's replacement. We have much to thank her for."

A new Makar is expected to be announced in the spring.