New exhibition celebrates 200 years of RSA art
Shetland Museum and Archives is marking the Royal Scottish Academy’s 200th anniversary with a special new exhibition celebrating the connections between Shetland and some of Scotland’s most respected artists.
‘Shetland Connections’ now on display in the Briggiestanes area of the museum, brings together 16 works from eight RSA-associated artists spanning two centuries. Drawn from the museum’s own art collection, the exhibition reflects both the variety of artistic practice represented within the RSA and the enduring inspiration Shetland has offered artists over generations.
Peat Boat, Shetland (1872) by William Fleming Vallance
Featured works include scenes of Hamnavoe, Hillswick, Fetlar and Papa Stour, alongside paintings and drawings by artists including Ursula Wood, Albert Paterson Barclay and Walter Graham Grieve. Among the highlights are William Fleming Vallance’s Peat Boat, Shetland (1872), the oldest work in the exhibition, David Alan Redpath Michie’s Bird’s Nest (1974).
Karen Clubb, exhibitions officer explained: “We are delighted to celebrate the RSA’s 200th anniversary through works from the museum’s own collection. Every piece in the exhibition has a connection to Shetland through its landscape, people or history, and together they show how these islands have continued to inspire artists across generations.”
Founded in 1826, the Royal Scottish Academy has supported and championed artists and architects in Scotland for two centuries. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to explore both the Academy’s history and Shetland’s lasting place within Scotland’s artistic imagination.
The exhibition runs until 19 July 2026.
