Orkney Artist Residency Highlights

During the months of May and June I spent five weeks in beautiful Scotland! The first two weeks were living and painting in Orkney as an artist resident at Linkshouse. The vistas from the house were breathtaking. Directly outside the door and a lovely hike took me to Marwick Head, Brough of Birsay, and the quiet village of Birsay where 16th-century Earl's Palace and my residency house are located. 

Everyday in Orkney the local weather forecast was about the same; wind, rain, increasing winds and rains, sunshine, rainbows then repeat. No surprise the countryside is so green and lush and filled with very happy sheep and newborn lambs wandering about. The ample daylight hours until near midnight made for long days and ample time to explore the island. Crossing the causeway during low tides to reach the Brough of Birsay felt sneaky, trying to out sleuth the turning tides, it was fun.

Orkney Mainland is approximately 220 sq miles and has a population of 21,000. The village of Birsay has a population of 40 plus sheep and dairy cattle. The fields grow high with assorted grasses to feed the livestock, barley, potatoes (tatties), rapeseed, gorse. Cliffs are constantly hammered by the rough seas and wind which is fantastic to witness as are the surrounding sea stacks, seals, puffins, terns, and huge seaweed plants.

By now you know me well enough to know I love spending time on an island whether its Iceland, St John, Hawaii, Greece and now adding Orkney to the collection. The mix of learning about the culture, neolithic history, language, and Scottish music made it an incredible visit.

I spent days in Birsay collecting inspiration during walks on the beach, painting in my studio which was constructed from local red sandstone and flagstone. It was sincerely cold enough inside the studio to wear three layers. A two-week artist residency can be very challenging trying to squeeze a lot in but I knew in advance I would be continuing to travel in Scotland afterwards. I packed small panels, canvas, brushes, and acrylic paints and maps. 

After leaving the residency time was spent with hikes through Highland Glens and around Lochs and adventures exploring Inverness, Aviemore, Dundee, Isle of Skye, Oban, Glasgow and London. Many of the photos are posted on my Instagram.

Back in my Denver studio I am now painting work which will show later this fall at Space Gallery in September. 

There will be a Pop-up in my Blue Sky IDEA Gallery, August 20-24, 2025.

For the Love of Scotland, exhibiting the work of Michael Burnett and nine special guest artists from Scotland.