MORE than 1,300 artists have signed an open letter backing a Yes vote in the referendum, in the biggest cultural statement for independence.

The letter has been signed by a wealth of artistic talent from across cultural genres, including writers, musicians, actors, architects, poets, comedians, directors, authors and publishers. It was organised by the National Collective body of campaigning artists which has been a key feature of the ­grass-roots Yes campaign.

The wording of the letter says that the undersigned "believe that Scotland can and should be an independent country".

The list of signatories includes the Makar, Liz Lochhead, writers Janice Galloway and Alan Bissett, songwriter Karine Polwart, the playwrights Kieran Hurley and David Greig, and the journalist and broadcaster Ruth Wishart.

The poet and professor of Scottish literature at Glasgow University, Alan Riach, has signed the letter, as has leading writer Irvine Welsh.

Meanwhile, all the members of the rock band Mogwai, songwriter and author Aidan Moffat, Booker Prize-winning author James Kelman, musician and songwriter Emma Pollock, Deacon Blue singer and songwriter Ricky Ross, fiddler Aly Bain and poets Tom Pow and Aonghas MacNeacail have signed.

The wording of the letter says: "We believe that Scottish culture will flourish come what may, but that political independence will give the people of Scotland the opportunity to build a better country, both socially and politically."