The Scottish poet, artist and gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) lived in a number of rural locations around Scotland. For a few months in 1959 he lived and worked in the Sourin district of Rousay. His monumental sculpture Gods of the Earth/ Gods of the Sea, created in collaboration with stone-carver Nicholas Sloan, was installed, under Finlay’s guidance, at a location near Blossom Quarry in Rousay in 2005, shortly before the artist’s death. Join Dr Alistair Peebles on this first-ever walking tour of the main sites of interest in relation to Finlay’s 1959 visit to Rousay. Come prepared for the weather. The ground in places will be uneven. A minibus will be available, and lunch is included in the ticket price. £40 (including ferry travel) £30 (without ferry travel) Spaces are limited. Booking essential. To book phone the Pier Arts Centre on 01856 850209 or email info@pierartscentre.com To secure a place, please book before Saturday 8 August. Link in bio for full details #PierArtsCentre #IanHamiltonFinlay #Orkney #Rousay

When you’re tired of the mountains and the rivers and the trees... Drawings by Marian Ashburn is on display until Saturday 15 August "One of my favourite things is stage design. It is maybe because of its ephemeral nature. You work flat out for a short time on a big scale, the scenery has a guaranteed moment in the limelight and then it goes to recycling. You have to illustrate or, at least, hope to add something to and you must have an idea of just how much you can do in the given time. There is a lot of ad hoc practical problem solving and time management that is very satisfying. The drawings here are a stage of my work and I have started sketches with mixed media that I look forward to developing into big oil paintings. I am full of uncertainty about starting them- a white canvas is much more intimidating than huge stage back cloths " Marian Ashburn June 2026 The Pier Arts Centre is currently open Monday-Saturday 10:30am-5pm. Admission is Free #PierArtsCentre #Summer2026