New watercolour exhibition at Da Gadderie inspired by the Shetland landscape

Shetland Museum and Archives will be unveiling a contemporary art exhibition in its Gadderie space this weekend that is inspired by the extremes of Shetland’s landscape.

The exhibition which comprises almost 40 watercolours is called ‘Clear Sight’ and features the recent work of award-winning, Shetland-based artist, Peter Davis, who has worked using the medium of watercolour throughout his art career.

Drawing on the natural environment and the clarity of views from his home, the paintings are a collection of subtle works that are connected by the stillness and flow of sea, land and weather.

Peter Davis explained: “The title Clear Sight was suggested to me and seems appropriate as an exhibition title for various reasons. At a simplistic level, since I moved three years ago to Silwick, I now have a clear sight of the sea which has been a constant in my painting for decades. Clear sight also describes my sense of where I am now and where I want to be in developing my work in future.

“I have worked with the watercolour medium for over 40 years, but that doesn’t mean it ever gets any easier. You just go with the flow and learn to handle the mistakes better.”

Peter hails originally from North-East England and, after taking an art and design course, he taught for some years in Cumbria. He moved to Orkney where he set up his own gallery and ten years later he moved to Shetland where he has continued paint and exhibit. He is currently represented by a number of Scottish galleries and was recently awarded the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW) John Busby Award.

Karen Clubb, exhibitions officer at Shetland Museum and Archives said: “We are honoured to have Peter’s work on display. Peter takes a nuanced approach in his work. Rather than portraying sedate, literal landscapes, Peter’s art portrays the uncertain balance between abstraction and reality, all using a subtle palette of colours and an imaginative use of white space that hints at what lies above and beneath the sea and land.

“As part of the learning programme that runs alongside the exhibition, Peter will be leading experimental watercolour workshops for both children and adults on Saturdays throughout February. An illustrated artist’s talk in Da Gadderie will also take place during the exhibition period. Keep an eye out on the museum’s social media and website for forthcoming information.”

Visitors can expect to see a varied collection of watercolours, with evocative titles such as Black Calm and Frozen Pool, Skeldaness.

The paintings will be available for sale.

The exhibition starts on Sat 28 January at 2.00pm and will run until 5 March 2023.