This exhibition reveals some beautiful art works from the museum’s collection, capturing the mood and tones of the coastline and seas surrounding Scotland. We invite you to delve into the smooth surfaces, pastel hues, melancholic skies and flat calm vibes of this collection of artwork, featuring a range of pieces - from epic oil paintings to more delicate watercolours and soothing sculpture reflecting on themes such as escape, community, home-coming, rest and recuperation.

10 artworks
  • Researchers have found that even just looking at art can bring about measurable positive changes to the way we feel physically and mentally. A professor of neurology Semir Zeki scanned the brains of volunteers looking at numerous works of art and discovered that when they looked at something they found to be beautiful it triggered an immediate release of the feel-good hormone dopamine.


    Looking at a lovely picture can increase blood flow to the brain, activate the visual cortex and allow us to focus in on particular features or place ourselves in the scene, distracting us from anxieties and stressors in the real world. What can occur is a complex whole-brain response that brings into play many usually disparate aspects of the mind.


    Cool, Calm and Collections
    Cool_Calm_and_Collections_Instagram_Post_Square_jpg
    Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • The Spirit of Adventure – Exploring New Horizons in Life and the Imagination

    ‘Ethiopia’ at Sea


    This vessel was built in Aberdeen by Walter Hood in 1864, she made her maiden voyage to Melbourne in only 68 days. Her last voyage under Red Ensign was in 1886, then she was sold to a Norwegian owner, abandoned near the Western Isles in 1894 then towed to St Michaels where she was condemned.

    Sailing Ship 'Ethiopia' at Sea
    William J. Popham
    Oil on canvas
    H 59.5 x W 90 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Sailing Ship 'Ethiopia' at Sea
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Sweet Day Dreams


    Artist Tom Gay has chosen to depict a seaman caught in a daydream in this oil painting. While resting on a harbour wall, the man dreams of sailing days gone by. The artist has conveyed this by including the image of a majestic clipper ship floating through the clouds in the background.

    Sweet Day Dreams 1963
    Tom Gay (active 1916–1964)
    Oil on wood
    H 25 x W 30.5 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Sweet Day Dreams
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Flat Calm – Still Waters and respite from the Storms

    Fishing Vessel 'Research' (LK62)


    Shown in this painting is the Zulu type fishing vessel 'Research' (LK62) docked on a calm day. The boat is now on display here at the Scottish Fisheries Museum. John Sandison lived in Lerwick and took up painting after he retired. He died in 2015. Shetland Museum and Archives has more of his work.

    Fishing Vessel 'Research' (LK62)
    John Sandison
    Oil on board
    H 90.5 x W 60 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Fishing Vessel 'Research' (LK62)
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Macquette 'Our Lady of the Isles'


    The full-sized sculpture can be seen the on the Hebridean island of South Uist at Rueval. The granite Madonna and Child soars above the rugged terrain where it can be seen from miles around. It is unusual for its isolated position and independent architectural qualities, rather than assuming a supportive or decorative role to a more substantial structure.


    ‘Star of the Sea’ or ‘Stella Maris’ is an ancient title of the Virgin Mary. Under this name she was considered to be a guide and protector of seafarers.

    Our Lady of the Isles c.1956
    Hew Martin Lorimer (1907–1993)
    Bronzed plaster
    H 34 x W 10 x D 10 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Our Lady of the Isles
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • At Anchor – Life Centred around the Shore, Community and Home

    Fifies Moored in the Dreel, Anstruther


    This oil painting created by I. Ferguson in 1901 depicts a serene view of Anstruther harbour, with two half decked fifies moored near the Dreel Burn.

    Fifies Moored in the Dreel, Anstruther 1901
    I. Ferguson
    Oil on board
    H 30 x W 45 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Fifies Moored in the Dreel, Anstruther
    Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Steam Fishing Vessel (KY274), Entering a Harbour


    Artist J. Black depicts a steam fishing vessel entering a harbour, presumably returning after a fishing trip. Seagulls soar in the pale blue sky above, completing this quintessential seaside scene.

    Steam Fishing Vessel (KY274), Entering a Harbour 1981
    J. Black (active from 1933–1993)
    Oil on canvas on board
    H 36 x W 25.5 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Steam Fishing Vessel (KY274), Entering a Harbour
    © the copyright holder. Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Downtime – A Moment to Rest

    Fife Fisher Girl


    In this piece, Cook has captured the titular Fife Fisher Girl in an important part of everyday life, a moment of rest. Through the door of the cottage, we can see a view of Pettycur Bay, Kinghorn towards Burntisland.

    Fife Fisher Girl 1869
    Charles Henry Cook (c.1830–1905) and Charles Henry Cook (c.1830–1905)
    Oil on canvas
    H 68 x W 50 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Fife Fisher Girl
    Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Reflections – Moods of the Sea, Sky and Mind

    Evening, Anstruther


    Born in Anstruther, Francis Patrick Martin studied at Glasgow School of Art and went on to have a successful art career as well as serving as a soldier and working for the General Post Office as a telegrapher. In this painting, the artist has captured the mood of his hometown at sunset.

    Evening, Anstruther c.1935
    Francis Patrick Martin (1883–1966)
    Oil on canvas
    H 49.5 x W 59 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Evening, Anstruther
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Fishing Nets


    By using quick brushstrokes to depict this tangle of nets hanging out to dry, Morrison has created a moody, abstract and busy scene. Morrison is best known for his work as a landscape painter and has been credited as one or the driving forces behind the reinvigoration of landscape painting in Scotland.

    Fishing Nets 1960
    James Morrison (1932–2020)
    Oil on canvas
    H 69 x W 120 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Fishing Nets
    © the artist's estate. Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Smack-Rigged Fishing Boat Dragging a Dinghy Downstream


    A fishing boat tows a dingy through an industrial riverscape in the half-light. The artist has captured a habitually busy environment in a moment of relative calm, where the blue and yellow hues of the sky are reflected in the gently rippling water.

    Smack-Rigged Fishing Boat Dragging a Dinghy Downstream 1910
    Robert D. Pasquoll (1881–1927)
    Oil on canvas
    H 62 x W 75 cm
    Scottish Fisheries Museum
    Smack-Rigged Fishing Boat Dragging a Dinghy Downstream
    Image credit: Scottish Fisheries Museum

  • Most of the information we have on the artists that feature in this exhibition comes from ‘The Dictionary of Scottish Painters 1600 to the Present’ or from various sources found on the internet by our curatorial volunteer Eileen Montador, but there are some artists we still don’t know much about – if you know anything about them, please get in touch by emailing us at enquiries@scotfishmuseum.org


    Prints of selected works from our collection can be ordered from the Art UK shop at the link below. We will be adding more artwork from this exhibition to the shop soon, so keep an eye out if there are any that speak to you.


    https://artuk.org/shop/featured-collections/scottish-fisheries-museum.html