Now the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which immortalises more than 2,000 artists from film, TV and music industries could be replicated in Scotland, with plans for a tribute to celebrate the country’s cultural icons.

Aileen Campbell, South of Scotland MSP, has written to Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop, Tourism Minister Jim Mather, VisitScotland and Historic Scotland to suggest a permanent memorial to showcase Scots who have achieved success in literature, film, sport and music.

Names suggested include Sir Sean Connery, Brian Cox, Lulu and John Byrne as well as Dame Muriel Spark, JK Rowling, James Kelman and Irvine Welsh.

Ms Campbell said: “Scotland has made a huge contribution to the world and it is only right that we celebrate the success Scots have achieved at home and abroad. A Scottish Walk of Fame could showcase these sons and daughters of Scotland and create an amazing cultural map of our country.

“Plaques could be placed around Scotland on buildings or streets in places of significance to the recipient, or gathered on the major streets of Scotland’s towns and cities like the Royal Mile or Sauchiehall Street. Just like the walk of fame in Hollywood.”

There is already a plaque outside the cafe in Edinburgh where JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book and Ms Campbell said a series of such tributes could form a cultural tour across the country, highlighting theatres and concert halls where some of Scotland’s best-loved performers have entertained the crowds.

She said: “We have many locations that have produced numerous great cultural and artistic stars – Glasgow’s School or Art or the RSAMD, Traverse Theatre or the Barrowlands or some of the bars and clubs where traditional stars have made their names like the Ceilidh place in Ullapool, or Eden Court in Inverness.

“Whether venues where our stars have made their breakthroughs, or the bars and cafes they have haunted there is much that would make a great cultural trail through Scotland and inspire Scotland’s next generation to seek the same success as their idols.”

A spokeswoman for the RSAMD, whose former pupils include Alan Cumming, James McAvoy, Robert Carlyle, Tom Conti and David Tennant, said: “It is a great idea because there are so many Scots who contribute a great deal culturally to the wellbeing in Scotland. We would be delighted to see them honoured.”

She added that the RSAMD would be “most excited” to be part of a cultural tour that formed the Scottish Walk of Fame.

A spokeswoman for VisitScotland said: “Scotland has got an enormous amount to celebrate. It has a fantastic cultural heritage that is known right across the world. One reason people come to Scotland is because they like what Scottish people stand for, they are friendly, warm and welcoming.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Ministers welcome suggestions on ways to recognise Scotland’s wealth of creative talent in a tangible way. This is a proposition that merits investigation.”

Who would you choose?

Phil Cunningham, performer and composer

Sir Harry Lauder, as he was such a big figure during the 1930s and 1940s. From the world I live in I would choose people like Stanley Baxter, Andy Stewart and Jimmy Shand. Also Calum Kennedy for flying the flag for Gaelic and Rikki Fulton – people who came from the old school of entertainment.

There was a different kind of star then.

Professor Willy Maley, writer and academic, Glasgow University

Dame Muriel Spark would be top of the list. She’s world class. Other great literary names with incontrovertible claims to fame like Henryson, Dunbar, Burns, Scott, Hogg, Stevenson and JM Barrie will have to be there, too – and substantial modern Scottish writers like Gunn and Gibbon. Then Iain Crichton Smith, Sorley Maclean, Liz Lochhead, Alasdair Gray, James Kelman … Key contemporaries would surely be in with a shout too: Ali Smith, Irvine Welsh and Alan Warner, for example.

Karen Dunbar, comedienne and actress

I’d like to see the crime writer Denise Mina honoured on the walk of fame. She’s a true Scottish success story in every way: as an author, a scholar and a mother. She’s a wonderful example of being able to do many things well and still keep a positive attitude and sharp sense of humour.

Iain Gordon, general manager of the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow My first choice would be Jack Milroy because of how much he was loved by everybody. Other performers loved to watch Jack Milroy. In our line of work I would think also Sydney Devine should be in there. He is in his 37th year at the Pavilion. People like Jimmy Logan and Chic Murray are others who deserve a place. People in variety or theatre get less recognition than people in film so anything that keeps showbusiness in the front of people’s minds would be good. It would be nice if it was in one area, like George Square. Anything like that would enhance George Square.”