THAT DAMNED ELUSIVE GALLERY!

Many people have tried to find the Tait Gallery, and most have failed. It's situated in a 2nd floor flat, at the top of a stairwell accessed through a back door in a rather plain-looking building in a minor street in Lerwick. To get from the street to the access door, one must first open a gate, which is normally barred by my neighbours to keep their two small dogs from escaping. Last summer only two rather breathless and dishevelled Swedish cruise-ship passengers made it through to the gallery, to be rewarded (I hope!) by a tour of my artwork. This summer only one German visitor reached it, and only because he had the presence of mind to phone me first, so that I was looking out for him when he arrived. As a consequence of my inaccessibility, I do most of my business either online or through exhibitions elsewhere.

This week at the Tait Gallery was one of new beginnings and revisits to old projects, either to scrap them entirely, or change them in some minor way. I have a permanent little display at the Lounge pub here in Lerwick and, from time to time, I replenish this, putting new works up and taking others away for adjustments large or small. On this occasion, such an adjusted work has been my depiction of the Aberdeen trawler "Headway" approaching Lerwick harbour in a gale (like the one which is blowing tonight!). I'll put it up on this blog when I've finished, which, hopefully, will be tomorrow. A complete transformation is being carried out on a disappointing effort of two Whalsay drifters steaming along in the open sea on parallel courses, viewed from the side. I can't remember what my original idea for this work was, but the plan clearly failed! I've scrapped the work entirely, and a new picture is emerging in its place, featuring a mixture of landscape, seascape and an inevitable fishing boat. I've also started a new work of another fishing vessel leaving Aberdeen harbour. All that and the changes to my studio furnishings have meant a busy week at the Tait Gallery. I hope next week is equally productive.