‘Skoitaboot’ – A new exhibition opened this past weekend (30 July 2011) in Da Gadderie at Shetland Museum and Archives.

Bert Simpson was born and brought up in Shetland during the forties and fifties. He left school at fifteen to take on an apprentice as a painter and decorator before being encouraged by the late local artist and teacher, Bunty Hunter, to seek entrance to Art College; a route that would take eight years and culminate in a graduation from Edinburgh College of Art in 1968.

Bert’s career has taken many twists, from working as a designer with architect Sir Basil Spence to running his own studio and pottery. Painting was always the common thread that ran throughout those years. He has participated in many individual, group and national exhibitions, with the highlight being the award of a Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts prize in 2005.

Now at 70 years old, Bert is still busy painting in his studio in Orkney from where he flits between family on the mainland and in Shetland. As an exile he often draws on a nostalgic look at the past and memories. His family, like many in Shetland, have had close connections with fishing and a life at sea and these influences have continued to creep into much of the work on show in his exhibition.

John Hunter, Shetland Museum and Archives exhibitions officer said: “This enthralling exhibition includes; reflections of Shetlands past, still life compositions, seascapes and boatbuilding scenes to name a few. Bert uses his broad range of skills with materials and techniques to bring out the best in these subjects. If you have any change left in the coffers after the Tall Ships it would be well worth a trip to Da Gadderie.”

The exhibition runs from 30th July – 28th August 2011.

Shetland Museum & Archives
Hay’s Dock
Lerwick
Shetland
ZE1 0WP

Source: Shetland Museum & Archives