The first Lookout Drawing Session!

Thank you to all participants for our first Lookout Drawing Session at Mareel yesterday!

With Bressay lighthouse as our starting theme, we explored different viewpoints and spaces in our drawings to see how pictures take us on journeys.

To begin, we warmed up with simple lines exercises to show how we travelled to the workshop, discussing ways that expressive lines can reveal aspects of a journey, beyond just a pathway.

Then, with images of Bressay lighthouse from the past and present to help us, we imagined views of the lighthouse from the sea. We learnt about the navigational importance of the lighthouse, and thought about it being a landmark which signalled the start of a long journey, or welcomed us home.

We then heard stories from few folk who had lived at lighthouses as keepers, or who had grown up in lighthouses as part of a keeper’s family. After learning about the difficulties they faced and the freedoms and adventures they enjoyed, we imagined ourselves in their shoes, looking out from a keeper’s cottage or from the lighthouse tower.

It was just lovely seeing these pictures emerge over the session, and experimenting with colour, texture and washes. Thank you to the young artists, and the Mareel for hosting the session. Can’t wait until next Saturday for week 2!

There’s still two sessions left and booking is still open on the Shetland Arts website.



Recommended age of participants is 8-12.  

Please bring a drink and a snack for the break if you wish!  

Participation is free, and all materials are provided. Booking is essential as spaces are limited.



In association with Shetland Arts and Culture Collective, supported by Creative Scotland.

www.culturecollective.scot