Arts organisations in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles are working together to provide creative opportunities for those who have been isolated during the pandemic. In Shetland, artists of all kinds have funding to work on projects with communities across the islands between now and April 2022.

Heather Christie, an artist and illustrator living in Bressay, is part of this project and has chosen to work with unpaid carers. She has experience of being a carer herself and was acutely aware of how isolating lockdown and other pandemic restrictions have been for others.

Her project is called Still Lives, a name which refers to the way that carers’ lives are often on hold, also to the way that everything stopped in the pandemic, and lastly to the genre of painting she hopes to use to allow participants to reflect on their experiences as carers in lockdown.

The idea is to paint a Still Life - the subject being objects that represent the participants’ life as a carer during lockdown. No experience is necessary and it doesn’t matter if you’ve not held a paintbrush since school! The sessions will be informal and fun, with the cuppa and chat with people who have had similar experiences being as important as the creativity.

Heather is looking for carers who would like to take part, with places initially being offered to carers in Bressay (with the project taking place at Speldiburn). Each session will run for a couple of hours on a day and time agreeable to the participants, with the understanding that as carers, life can get in the way, sometimes at very short notice! She can help out with transport on the island if needed.

If you are interested in taking part, please let Amanda Brown know by emailing amanda.brown@shetland.org or tel 01595 743923.