Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay
Saturday, March 28th 2026 - Saturday, June 20th 2026
Da Gadderie, Shetland Museum and Archives
The exhibition will focus on the nine years (1933 - 1942) poet Hugh MacDiarmid and his wife Valda spent on the Shetland island of Whalsay, exploring how the island influenced their lives and work despite persistent challenges.
Featured items will include original manuscripts and personal letters on loan from National Library of Scotland (NLS); visual art from Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) artists Alexander Moffat and Ruth Nicol, and images drawn from private family collections.
The exhibition will be presented at the museum's Da Gadderie Gallery in collaboration with NLS, RSA, Shetland Library, and Whalsay History Group, connecting national heritage with local Shetland history.
Image: Valda and Chris (2020) oil on canvas by Alexander Moffat
