Hugh MacDiarmid and Valda’s Whalsay story brought to life in new exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives

Hugh and Valda in Whalsay

Focusing on the nine years (1933 – 1942) that Scottish poet, Hugh MacDiarmid (pen name of Christopher Murray Grieve) and his wife Valda spent in Whalsay, the exhibition brings their story vividly to life through rare manuscripts and personal letters on loan from the National Library of Scotland alongside visual art, previously unseen photographs and artefacts that capture their experience of island life.

Part of the National Library’s centenary programme, the exhibition has evolved from a loan of archival material into a richly layered and immersive exploration of the couple’s years in Shetland. Close collaboration with the Whalsay History Group has been central to its development, with contributions including artefacts, knitted replicas and valuable insight into island life, helping to create a deeply personal portrait of Hugh and Valda.

Carefully curated by the Shetland Museum and Archives team within the Gadderie space, the exhibition unfolds through a series of distinct yet connected spaces. One area draws inspiration from MacDiarmid’s writing environment, while another highlights his poetry through selected lines and original manuscripts. Personal letters reveal the creative, personal and sometimes frank exchanges between Christopher and Valda. Archive photographs from the Grieve family’s Whalsay albums, alongside community recollections, offer insight into how the couple were seen locally, while quotations from their correspondence bring their voices and experiences to the fore.

A central part of the exhibition explores Valda’s story. Strong-willed, resourceful and independent, she immersed herself in island life and played a vital role in sustaining the family and their young son Michael through poverty, ill health and isolation. Her resilience and creativity were integral to the couple’s shared experience and to Hugh’s work. This is reflected in a domestic setting inspired by their home, featuring her knitting jotter and replica knitted garments.

Valda with son Michael in Whalsay

The exhibition also features the original fourareen boat associated with MacDiarmid’s journey to the island of Linga, where he was inspired to write his celebrated poem On a Raised Beach, alongside a wealth of personal and archival material that evokes the realities of their daily life in Whalsay. During these years, MacDiarmid produced half of his life’s work there drawing deeply on the island’s landscapes and people. His Whalsay years also profoundly shaped his engagement with Scottish identity, language and politics.

The exhibition is further enriched by the inclusion of visual art by Royal Scottish Academy artist Alexander Moffat and contemporary landscape artist Ruth Nicol, bringing a contemporary perspective to Hugh and Valda’s legacy. Their inclusion forms part of RSA200: Celebrating Together, the Royal Scottish Academy’s bicentenary programme. MacDiarmid himself was made an Honorary Academician of the RSA in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Scottish literature, making this a particularly fitting connection.

Karen Clubb, Exhibitions Officer at Shetland Museum and Archives said: “We are delighted to be sharing this exhibition. It has been fascinating to unpick the story of Hugh and Valda and bring their experiences in Whalsay to life. From the outset, we were especially keen to shine a light on Valda, who was seen as an unconventional figure at the time – she smoked, wore breeks and lived independently – yet it was her strength, resilience and immersion in island life that helped sustain the family. She is a compelling figure, and the exhibition reveals more about her influence, her presence and the important role she played during some of Hugh’s most productive writing years.”

Tracey Hawkins, Collections Manager at Shetland Museum and Archives said: “This is a very special exhibition for us, and one we are proud to present. What began an as opportunity to display rare letters and manuscripts has grown into something much more immersive, bringing to life Hugh and Valda’s years in Whalsay through archival material, artefacts, community contributions and contemporary responses. It has been a privilege to work with the National Library and to collaborate closely with the Whalsay History Group, whose knowledge and generosity have been invaluable. We are also delighted to include artwork by Alexander Moffat RSA and Ruth Nicol RSW, which bring a different perspective to the exhibition and ties in with both the National Library’s centenary and RSA200 celebrations.”

Director of Collections, Access and Research at the National Library, Alison Stevenson said: “The letters and manuscripts in our archival holdings bring to life those who wrote them in ways that no other material can, and we have seen this in people’s reactions when they get up close to their handwriting – it’s a visceral reaction as much as an intellectual one. We are delighted to visit Shetland and contribute in such a way to this exhibition celebrating Valda and Hugh. And we very much look forward to our National Library Live activity around Shetland in May, in collaboration with Shetland Library as well as Shetland Museum and Archives. It will be a privilege to meet people in libraries, schools and community venues, and explore connections with their national collections.”

An extensive programme of events will accompany the exhibition including talks, creative writing workshops using archival material, artist-led sessions, and family-friendly activities, offering something for all ages and interests.

‘Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay’ runs until 20 June 2026.