Exhibition will celebrate the maritime heritage of Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre

An exhibition showcasing the Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre Triptych - a community project which celebrates the maritime heritage of these three islands – is being held on Rousay and Dounby next week (23-24 February).

This will be the only chance to see the triptych – three new pieces of art by Orkney-based textile and print artist Ceri Biddle - before it is split between the three island ferry waiting rooms to be enjoyed by residents and visitors. 

The maritime heritage- themed work is part of a wider project across the North Isles that has seen a variety of artwork installed in island pier waiting rooms.  In Sanday, artist Rosie Priestman’s photographic piece was created using maritime objects sourced from community members. In Papa Westray, Sioarse Higgins and Jonathan Ford  focused on the pier as a place of waiting, arrival and departure, with an audio visual piece.  Molly Shearer created a beautiful weaving for Stronsay, taking inspiration from maritime industries of past and present, and in Westray artist Roz Bryant’s wonderful stone carving was made after exploring maritime heritage and art with members of the community.

All the work has been created with an element of community involvement – whether stories have been collected to inform the work, workshops organised or personal objects from the community used within the piece.

Ceri said: “It's been a pleasure working with the local communities and learning so much about the maritime heritage of the islands. It's been such a privilege to hear the wonderful stories, see the old photographs that have been taken through the years and be able to share them through my art work. I hope everyone enjoys the pieces as much as I've loved making them with the community.”

The endeavour is part of the North Isles Landscape Partnership scheme (NILPS) ‘Seas of the Isles’ project, a wider maritime research project involving community talks, events and research into maritime heritage in the North Isles.  The project has been delivered by Wessex Archaeology with local coordinators undertaking specific research projects around the isles.  There were four themes to the overall Seas of the Isles project; Maritime Art, Prehistoric seafaring, shipwrecks and maritime cultural heritage.

The exhibitions are free to enter and will take place at:

• Rousay Community Centre Thursday 23 February 2.30pm - 4.45pm
• Dounby Milestone Church Hall Friday 24 February 4pm - 6.30pm. 

Find out more about the work of NILPS here https://www.nilps.co.uk/

See Ceri Biddle’s work here https://www.ceribiddle.co.uk/

The North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS) is a £4.5m programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), NatureScot and the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020 programme that will support projects to promote the culture, heritage and landscape of the North Isles and will run until December 2024. 

The programme will invest £4.5 million in the North Isles and will run until December 2024.