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A successful artist is leaving Shetland to open her own gallery in Fife after becoming a familiar face in the art community since moving up last year.
Meleri Mair had been teaching art for two decades in secondary schools across Wales and Scotland before launching her own business two years ago.
Through Meleri Mair Art she began tutoring and running art classes for both adults and children – all while selling her own artwork.
Last March, she moved to Shetland and has since become a well-known face in the art community with regular classes receiving great reviews.
One factor behind these reviews is Mair’s laid back approach to teaching, encouraging folk to enjoy the process rather than focusing only on the finished piece.
“I’m more about the experience than the outcome – even though the outcomes are always awesome,” she said.
Her background as a teacher has informed this approach, as “if I can get teenagers through their exams, I can face anything.”
Mair was based in Fife before her move, and received the offer from a friend to take over an art gallery in the area.
“It’s my dream to have my own gallery,” she said.
“But it also has a workshop in the back to do my classes, so I said ‘yes, we’re doing it’.”
With plans to “take a bit of Shetland back with me to Fife,” Mair will also use her new gallery as a space to sell work by isles creatives including Dawn Mainland Art, Shetland Jewellery, and Peerie Knits.
One major development during Mair’s time in Shetland was becoming an organiser for Da Muckle Market.
These monthly events give folk a chance to man a stall to sell their wares such as baking and art.
Despite her success, Mair noted that island community life can be difficult as an incomer.
“I was getting pretty good bookings at the start, but then there was a dip,” she said.
“There was a rumor going around that I wasn’t a teacher, that I didn’t have my child protection stuff – so I was a victim of the Shetland rumor mill.
“I have no idea why, and I was so upset by that because I’ve been teaching for over 20 years.
“I’ve never ever had anyone question if I’ve been to uni to do art or anything like that – it was very strange.”
This clearly didn’t do too much harm, as folk are so sad to see her go that she is training a friend to continue offering her unique services after the move to cover the demand.
As Mair and her partner have family in the isles, she reassured that she will still have some presence as an artist and teacher.
Part of her classes sees artist packs made up ahead of time, including all the paint and materials required to take part.
She has arranged to send up these packs in bulk from Fife to aid the delivery of similar classes after her move.
Her various age-targeted classes teach attendees how to paint scenes of a range of themes, offering folk the chance to incorporate other forms of arts and crafts with their painted work.
Da Muckle Market will also continue after she leaves, with a small team stepping into her organising shoes.
These events have become increasingly popular in recent months, with a notable new recruit on the stalls being eight-year-old silver jewellery entrepreneur Ragnar Whitesmithing.
The market will come to the Brae hall for May’s session, on the last Saturday of the month.
Mair’s last classes before the move includes a Mad Hatter costumed night, with themed work inspired by the Mad Hatter’s dinner from Alice in Wonderland.
Her last class in June will fittingly focus on a sailing boat heading off into the sunset.
Art fans can find details on upcoming events and follow Meleri Mair’s onward journey with the gallery on her Facebook page.
Information about the monthly Muckle Markets can also be found on their Facebook page.
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