Letters from Shetland: October
Welcome to the second edition of Letters from Shetland.
Firstly, a little thank you for the lovely response to my first letter last month. It was so nice to hear how many of you enjoyed coming along with me to Skerries.
This month, I'm taking you to St Ninian's Isle – one of my favourite places in Shetland, and somewhere that holds lots of happy childhood memories.
I'll also be sharing a few recent moments from my camera roll and a little look at what's been happening in the studio as autumn settles in.
Shetland Spotlight: St Ninian's Isle
St Ninian's Isle has always been one of my favourite places in Shetland, and somewhere that holds so many happy childhood memories.
My grandparents were from nearby Bigton, and I spent a lot of time there growing up. I have such lovely memories of days spent at my granny's, helping out on the old croft, digging up peats and tatties, playing with the sheepdogs and ponies, and flying kites.
Looking back at these old photographs brings back so many happy memories of those days. It's funny how certain places stay with you, no matter how many years have passed.
I still love visiting St Ninian's Isle whenever I can. There's something very special about the peace and quiet of that beautiful sandy beach, but I also love the rugged cliffs and the big waves rolling in after a stormy day.
Of course, the weather at this time of year isn't always ideal for a walk along the beach, but you can still enjoy those lovely views from the warmth of the Haar Sauna!
A Little History
St Ninian's Isle is quite a special place, not just for its scenery but for its history too.
The beach is the largest active sand tombolo in the UK, with the sea on either side of the sand connecting the isle to the mainland. It's also a lovely spot for watching seabirds, with plenty to see around the coastline.
One of Shetland's most impressive archaeological discoveries was made here in 1958, when 28 silver Pictish objects were found on the isle. They're now known as the St Ninian's Isle Treasure.
The original pieces are displayed at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, but if you're visiting Shetland, you can see replicas at the Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick.
If you fancy exploring the isle yourself, there's a lovely circular walk that takes you around the coastline.
Explore the St Ninian's Isle Circular Walk
A Place That Keeps Inspiring Me
St Ninian's Isle has found its way into quite a few of my paintings over the years, including Nightfall at St Ninian's, inspired by the familiar landscape around Bigton.
I've also been lucky enough to work with Shetland Jewellery on a collection inspired by this special part of Shetland.
It's somewhere I never tire of visiting, and I'm sure it'll continue to find its way into my work for years to come.
On The Easel: Lanterns
With the darker evenings creeping in and gifting season just around the corner, I've been busy making more of my lanterns in the studio.
They proved to be a very popular gift last Christmas and sold out much quicker than I'd expected! As each one is made by hand, it's not always easy to keep up with demand.
So I've been getting a head start this year, making more in the studio ready for the months ahead. There's something lovely about knowing they'll soon be lighting up homes here in Shetland and a little further afield.
From The Gallery Wall: Mirrie Dancers Over St Ninian's Isle
To tie in with this month's visit to St Ninian's Isle, I thought I'd share a little more about my painting, Mirrie Dancers Over St Ninian's Isle.
I've actually painted this particular croft house three times now, but this was my first attempt at adding the Mirrie Dancers to the sky.
For those who aren't familiar with the name, Mirrie Dancers is what we call the Northern Lights here in Shetland. We're lucky enough to see them dancing across our skies during the darker months, usually between October and March.
I loved the idea of bringing those beautiful colours into the painting, although getting the bright purples to blend with the dark sky wasn't quite as straightforward as I'd hoped! It took a few attempts, but I was really happy with how it turned out.
It's lovely to see how different the same little croft house can look with a change of sky.
The painting has since found its way onto all sorts of things, from lampshades and cushions to lanterns, mugs, coasters and tote bags.
I've also worked with Shetland Jewellery to bring the artwork into a lovely jewellery collection, which has been another special way of sharing a place that means so much to me.
Avril's Camera Roll
It's been a busy few weeks in the studio, boxing up lanterns with their ribbons and tags, preparing more peerie croft houses and having a little play around with some ceramic Christmas trees.
I've also managed a few trips out to Hillswick and South Nesting, along with a wander around Lerwick. And of course, Mexi has been on hand to supervise the croft house making – although I'm not sure how much help he's actually been!
Thank you for reading
That's all from me for October.
Thank you for taking the time to read my second Letter from Shetland. I hope you've enjoyed hearing a little more about St Ninian's Isle and what I've been working on lately.
Before I go, a little something to look forward to! Next week, I'll be launching a special seasonal giveaway in collaboration with Shetland Jewellery, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
I'll be back next month with more stories, photographs and a little look at life here in Shetland.
Avril x