SIR Timothy Clifford, general director of the National Galleries of Scotland, has revealed that he suffers from dyslexia.

In a candid interview with The Herald Magazine today, he tells of his battle with the learning disability.

Sir Timothy, who is leaving his post in January after 21 years, admitted it made reading and writing difficult as a child and means he still struggles with numbers. He has compensated for the condition by developing an acute artistic visual sense.

As a child, he once signed his name as Droffilc Yhtomit.

"I have a complete lack of ability with numbers. I don't know what it is, but I have a complete part of my brain that just refuses to operate, " SirTimothy said. "If you asked me nowwhat the number plate of my carwas: I wouldn't have a clue." He said he does not know his home or work telephone number. "I have, after an enormous amount of work, memorised my cash card number."