The winning artists got �30,000 each

The �30,000 grants are the richest arts prize scheme in the UK and will be used to develop projects into competed public works.

The Creative Scotland Awards 2003 cover projects encompassing music, visual arts, dance, writing, as well as a unique garden.

The awards were first established in 2000 to help artists with a proven track record to develop and explore new ideas.

They must then be shown to the public on completion.

Architect Malcolm Fraser will use his grant to develop a project to turn Edinburgh's Grassmarket car park into an outdoor dance centre and ice rink.

CREATIVE SCOTLAND AWARDS Jim Buckley, sculptor Malcolm Fraser, architect Ian Hamilton Finlay, visual artist Brian Kellock, musician Frank Kuppner, writer Nicola McCartney, playwright Bernard MacLaverty, writer Dr Gordon McPherson, composer Mark O'Keeffe, trumpeter Colette Sadler, choreographer

Writer Bernard MacLaverty will try his hand at film-making and composer Gordon MacPherson will write a work based on the paranormal.

Jim Buckley is planning to take a year off teaching to develop a series of new artworks in Aberdeen and Clydebank.

And Ian Hamilton Finlay will use his money to expand and maintain his famous Lanark garden Little Sparta.

James Boyle, chairman of the Arts Council, congratulated each of the artists.

He said: "What a fantastic range of ideas have come through for this year's Creative Scotland Awards.

"Each year we look for those artists who are able to stretch their creativity to the limits and, once again, we have not been disappointed.

"Here are ten inspiring projects for Scotland, each of which shows the ingenuity and creative spark that makes our artists such a valuable part of all our lives."

'High standards'

Catherine Lockerbie, chair of the judging panel, said: 'Every single one of the artists, authors, dancers, musicians and visionaries who made it through to the final round of this year's Scottish Arts Council Creative Scotland Awards deserves our awed admiration. "

"The standard is higher than ever before.

"Choosing the final 10 was both a privilege and one of the toughest tasks imaginable."

A hand-engraved memento, by glass artist Anita Pate, was presented to each recipient at a gala event in Edinburgh's Hub on Wednesday.