Shetland is a place rich in artistic talent, home to an array of creators and makers; from painters to ceramicists and textile designers. Supporting this creative community is the Fine Arts Shetland Art Group, through which an exciting new collaboration has taken shape.

I’m thrilled to introduce my friend and fellow Shetland artist, Anne Barron. Over the years, Anne and I have developed a close bond; sharing inspiration, support, and encouragement in our lives as self-employed artists. Anne is also an artist and illustrator; self taught with over 30 years experience in commissions of a wide variety of art, in various media including acrylics, watercolours, pencils, pastels and digital painting. Since moving to Shetland 17 years ago, her horizons have been broadened literally and figuratively with the sea becoming her primary source of inspiration.

Her style and palette have been shaped and inspired by the patterns of the ever-changing sea and the rich spectrum of blues that reflect its depths and somewhat volatile temperament. Based in Burra, she’s surrounded by the sea - making it an ideal vantage point for inspiration. 

During a conversation one day, I suggested to Anne that our shared artistic style, colour palettes and passion for the sea might result in truly special collaboration. This simple idea led to a new collaboration that has now blossomed into a unique collection of one-off pieces. Inspired by my passion for snorkelling and underwater photography, Anne and I combined our talents: she paints iconic Shetland landscapes on the upper canvas, while I create scenes below the waterline, blending realistic and dreamlike imagery.

Collaborating can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, as merging two distinct styles into a cohesive piece brings its own set of challenges. For the creation of our first piece, Anne found inspiration in a stunning photograph taken by a friend of Meal Beach under a dramatic dark sky. This unconventional colour palette was new for both of us, leaving us uncertain about how it would come together. However, the final painting exceeded our expectations; we had skilfully blended the colours to create a mesmerising underwater world that infused the piece with a sense of magic. This painting sold almost immediately, giving us the confidence to continue exploring our new partnership.

We’re delighted to be launching this new collaboration, exclusively at the Shetland Arts and Crafts Association fair this coming weekend. Thereafter, pieces will be available in Anne’s Burra Studio and my Scalloway Studio. 

We hope to see you this weekend to share more about this wonderful collaboration.