Just after the opening of our June exhibitions, I set off on a rather challenging road trip from Edinburgh to Aberdeen in torrential rain, crawling at an average of 50mph and only just catching the ferry to Shetland. Thankfully, the crossing was calm, and I arrived in Lerwick on Sunday to sunshine. There is a quiet magic to Shetland, a place where land and light speak their own language.
My first stop was Shetland Museum to see Ron Sandford’s Spirit of Places exhibition, a powerful testament to both place and memory. His work beautifully captures the contours, architecture, and atmosphere of Shetland, alongside highlights from his time living in Hong Kong and travels to Ireland.
Next, I journeyed north to Yell, the largest of Shetland’s windswept isles, to visit Ron Sandford and Meilo So in their home and studio. I brought along a bunch of peonies, which Ron began to make a drawing of, which is part of his daily drawing practice, or as he puts it his “addiction to drawing”. He draws for a minimum of three hours every day. I had listened to his recent podcast on the two-hour drive from Lerwick, arriving full of questions. It was a privilege to spend time with him and Meilo and learn more about their life in Scotland, London, and Hong Kong, and Ron’s unwavering dedication to drawing and printmaking. I now have a rich portfolio of film and photographs that will feature in several upcoming projects.
From Yell, I travelled to Scousburgh Sands to visit Glasgow-trained artist Gail Harvey, who lives and works just steps from one of the South Mainland’s most stirring stretches of coastline. Shetland is not only breath-taking but it is also full of warmth. It is a place where hospitality is generous, and creativity runs deep. A delicious lunch was served, the dog was walked along the moor coast, and I had the pleasure of learning more about Gail’s painting practice on a day touched by the most glorious light. We will be unveiling Harvey’s work in our forthcoming The Northern Isles exhibition early next year.
My final studio stop was to Sandwick in the South to visit painter Ruth Brownlee. Her studio carries the scent of salt air and turpentine. Ruth moved to Shetland in 1998, not long after graduating from Edinburgh College of Art, and her work has since become synonymous with the islands. Over the years, Ruth’s work has regularly been featured in the Shetland crime series (where very few murders actually take place!).
I’m going to sign off on this high note as The Gallery is excited to share more about Ruth’s practice in September when we present her first solo exhibition with The Gallery, 60 Degrees North. All will be revealed!
I leave Shetland, after visiting in both the winter and the summer and I take away a deeper understanding of what it means to live at 60 degrees north – where life is shaped by light, weather, and an enduring sense of place.
