I’ve been staying on the harbourside in Scalloway, Shetland during this art residency, with the winter tides splashing up to the windows. Walking around what was once the capital of Shetland, I noticed that access to the water through nooks and crannies between the seafront buildings was a constant theme. History was apparent amongst the many stone corridors of steps and slipways at the back of buildings – I bet those steps and slipways could tell a story or two!
Wandering down those seaweed covered steps, exploring the slipways and pottering round Blacksness Docks, each angle giving a different outlook, a spark of inspiration emerged, and so did a new sketchbook. I brought a batch of Sketchbook Project sketchbooks with me, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to share my explorations.
It may in retrospect have been logical to start at one end of the harbour and circle round to the other, however I instinctively started the sketchbook with the space and steps by The Booth (marked ‘here’ on the map below) Here are those initial charcoal drawings:
Drawn from the corner of the studio, looking out to the neighbouring island of Trondra.
(what3words location: tenure.thrashed.cattle)
There are steps down to the sea on right of the studio looking outwards. I discovered that the sea often sweeps it’s waves up the steps at high tide, especially during feisty weather.
(what3words location: refrained.infects.cools)
Moving round from The Booth towards Blacksness Docks, there are steps down to the water before the next house along the harbour. I love the rusted buoys lolling in the front yard of the neighbouring house.
(what3words location: dose.recliner.remember)
Here’s a map of Scalloway, Shetland to enable you to get your bearings:
The Sketchbook Project is the world’s largest collection of artist sketchbooks and is housed in Brooklyn, New York. Many are digitised and available to view from wherever you are, and the actual sketchbooks are often taken around the States on tour of educational establishments. I’ve noted each exact location with the what3words app in case you fancy looking them up.
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