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The third in the series of storytelling sessions, each in three 15 minute parts. Stories linked to the exhibition Islander: the paintings of Donald Smith selected and told by the artist’s nephew, Ian Stephen.

3pm: How the down was shared

3.30pm: The seal-wife

4.00pm: The Great Selkie

Join Ian Stephen, writer and storyteller from Lewis, for 3 short storytelling sessions today exploring themes suggested by ‘Islander’, an exhibition of the paintings of Donald Smith (1926 – 2014). Ian’s mother, Johan, was an elder sister of the artist. His Lewis grandfather, Murdo Smith from Shawbost, was known as an orator and custodian of stories and traditions. Ian has been combining the gathering and telling of stories with his literary work since the late 1970s. He has shared these stories round Scotland and abroad, from Lahore Literary Festival to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival.

Islander stories - Birds and Beasts

Painting of 4 netsmen on a tractor. The men are wearing white trousers and brown jumpers - the sea is in the background.

Islander stories - The North Sea Coast

Sunday 5 September 2021, 3:00pm

Online storytelling session

The fourth in the series of storytelling sessions, each in three 15 minute parts. Stories linked to the exhibition Islander: the paintings of Donald...

Archived event

This is an archive page for a past event

Find out what's happening now and upcoming in our What's on section.

More info
Iasgar Mor, oil on board, by Donald Smith (1926-2014). copyright; the artist's family

Islander: the Paintings of Donald Smith

Sat 29 May to Sun 26 Sep 2021 ‘Smith’s painting remained rooted…in the real and earthy, not to say the salty, life of Lewis and its fishermen and women’. ★★★★ Duncan Macmillan,...

Archived event

This is an archive page for a past event

Find out what's happening now and upcoming in our What's on section.

More info