The old town in Edinburgh has many narrow passages and sets of steps that connect the High Street down to Princes Gardens.  Generally these are dark, mysterious and have occasional surprises. One such surprise is to find yourself walking on an artwork designed by the artist Martin Creed.   The Scotsman steps were originally built as part of the Scotsman building in which they are embedded, which is adjacent to Waverly Station, the City Art Gallery and the Fruitmarket Gallery.  They had become grimy, run down, damaged, with walls covered in grafitti and a location of recurring anti-social behaviour.  In need of major refurbishment, The Fruitmarket Gallery suggested commissioning a public artwork for the Steps as part of the renovation by Edinburgh City Council, to help change the public perception of them, and to fulfill the Gallery’s mission to make contemporary art freely accessible.  In parallel with an exhibition on the work of the Turner-prize winner Martin Creed, the Gallery commissioned Creed. Work No. 1059 comprises 104 steps of differently-coloured marbles.  Taking two years of planning and construction, and costing £250,000, it opened in 2011.  This is a colourful addition to the art of Edinburgh; it is an artwork that changes as people walk up and down the stairs and as they weather and are washed with rain.