A leading German art curator Hans Ulrich Obrist has called it the "Glasgow miracle".

The miracle is an enduring one.

The spectacular success of Glasgow-based or Glasgow-trained artists has been celebrated, analysed and questioned ever since Douglas Gordon became the first Scot to win the Turner Prize in 1996.

The Turner Prize is of course not the only barometer of an artist's achievement, and indeed some artists are uncomfortable with the award and the apparent competitive nature of its form.

However, there is no doubt that Scotland and in particular Glasgow, its art school and its artists, has somewhat dominated the annual prize in the last 20 years.

This year's short list, again, has strong links to the city. Duncan Campbell, Ciara Phillips and Tris Vonna-Michell all studied at the Glasgow School of Art and Campbell and Phillips live and work in the city.

If any of the three wins, they will be the seventh artist with Scottish links to take the prize since 1996.

Last year, David Shrigley, who trained and lives and works in Glasgow, was up for the award.

Between 2009 and 2011 there was a hat-trick of wins for artists connected to the city - Richard Wright in 2009, Susan Philipsz in 2010 and Martin Boyce in 2011.

Simon Starling, also a GSA student, and Martin Creed, who grew up in Lenzie, have also won the award.

And over the years, the shortlists for the prize have featured many Scottish artists, including Karla Black, Nathan Coley, Anya Gallacio, Jim Lambie, Cathy Wilkes, Lucy Skaer, and Luke Fowler.

The success of Scottish and Glasgow artists led over the years for calls for the prize, which incorporates and exhibition and an award ceremony, to be staged in Scotland. And it will be, in Glasgow next year.

But what of the Turner Prize, which is open to UK artists, if Scotland becomes independent?

Penelope Curtis, Director of Tate Britain and Chair of the Jury, suggested in an interview with The Herald that the prize would have to be re-assessed if the Vote is Yes.