Based in the Shetland Islands, Avril Thomson Smith is a Shetland landscape artist whose work is shaped by a lifelong connection to the islands. Her paintings draw on Shetland’s dramatic scenery, croft houses, and wildflowers, reflecting both the detail and atmosphere of the landscape.

Avril’s early years were defined by freedom and time spent outdoors. Visits to her grandparents’ croft in Southend fostered a lasting appreciation for Shetland’s quieter rhythms an influence that continues to inform her work as an artist inspired by Shetland.

Following a 20-year career at Shetland College, she chose to focus fully on painting, developing a distinctive body of work grounded in observation and experience. As a Scottish artist in the Shetland Islands, her work carries a strong sense of place, while her growing reputation as a UK landscape artist reflects its wider appeal.