Shetland Arts and Crafts thriving on tradition

“Your memories will never die if you pass them on”, Julie said, as she pointed to the art surrounding her. She was one of many talented craftspeople gathered in Lerwick's Clickimin Leisure Centre, and in just a few hours the annual craft fair was due to begin.

All around me people were setting items on tables, hanging clothes on display racks and putting pictures on the walls. The craft fair is a popular part of the Shetland calendar, with plenty to appeal to locals and tourists.

Taking place every November, it is the perfect opportunity to buy unique, handmade Christmas presents. This year there were 88 sellers participating and over 4,000 people visited the fair over the weekend. In 2023, the innovative Shetland Made week preceded the craft fair for the first time.

As people set up stalls all around us, Julie showed me one of her designs. A silhouette of an adult and child walking side by side, stick held high in the air for protection, as tirricks (the Shetland dialect word for tern) circled overhead.

She said that all her work starts with exploring a childhood memory, then she draws it and plans how it will become a pattern. She hopes her Shetland images are relatable and, by transforming them into art, the stories continue into the future.

At the table opposite, Sophie from Shetland Jewellery was placing silver necklaces, with beautiful flower patterns, onto a display. She said these were a new range made in collaboration with a local artist Avril Thomson, and she is excited to show them to people. She described the importance of events like the craft fair to showcase the new products but also as a fun weekend with a real buzz of excitement about it.

The sociality of the fair was something everybody mentioned. It is a chance for creators to meet, chat and enjoy seeing other people’s work. Those who had been before emphasised how friendly it is, with everybody encouraging and helping eachother. Support stretches far beyond this yearly event, to form an important part of craft communities in Shetland more generally.

Craft has always been part of island traditions. For much of history people needed to make most of the items needed, from knitwear to woven baskets. These skills were passed down through the generations, with people learning from each other and telling stories as they worked.

Contemporary craft is in many ways different from how it was in the past. However, the intergenerational nature of teaching and innovative use of resources continues, connecting those working today with those who came before.

"Craft is something that is really valued here, a lot is passed down through the generations and there is a joy in doing it. It is therapeutic, during the dark winters you can immerse yourself in something creative’ Kim from Shetland on canvas explained. She said that as she explores the islands with her camera she always notices something new, her art opening up different relationships with familiar places.

For Kim, like many of the people I spoke to, her craft began as a hobby. Feeling inspired by the colours of island landscapes and weather, they sought to find ways to represent this through art. Many described how they were supported to learn and develop by others with more experience, describing this as a gentle and positive process, without judgement.

As I looked at the beautiful woven garments at Shetland Handspun, they told me how each part is done by hand, from carding , to spinning, dying and weaving. "Weaving is my love, but spinning is my passion", Elizabeth said, describing how relaxing it is to spin, creating something while being able to chat to friends and family at the same time.

We discussed the many local knitting and spinning groups and how important they are to our communities. These groups welcome everybody from novices to experts, providing places for people to relax, learn and make new friends. Before long, I had been invited to come along some time, to have a go at spinning and, if I liked it, she would be happy to teach me.

The journey from hobby to small business was described by several people as something that just naturally happened. That as they made thing and gave them as gifts, they soon started to get requests and commissions.

Community support for small businesses was mentioned by everybody I spoke to. Although Shetland has a vibrant tourist economy, with many visitors bringing island made products home with them, the seasonal nature of tourism means that local support is a vital part of the success of Shetland’s craft.

The numbers visiting the craft fair each year, almost a fifth of Shetland’s total population, is a vital source of income for many producers. But support for local craft goes far beyond one big event, and most small businesses couldn’t exist without everyday networks of community. Friends recommending local businesses, established shops giving shelf room to folk starting out, support from online sales.

I always try to buy local when getting people presents and household items and Shetland has an astonishing range of possibilities. From island brewed gin and beer, locally made soap, tea, chocolate and jewellery there are plenty of options.

As I walked around I noticed lots of items that I had previously seen on Instagram or TikTok. It was amazing to see them in real life, to get a feel for the sizes and colours. I also discovered artists that I had not known about before. I found myself lingering at some of the knitwear, thinking about colder weather approaching and wondering if I should treat myself to some new gloves.

Looking at the range of island made items, I thought about what Julie said about making and sharing memories. Because at every table, memory and future merged.

People’s experience of landscape represented in photographs and carvings, characters from fireside stories appearing in jewellery and decorations, seaglass and wooden pallets, transformed by skilled hands into something new.

As people browsed, buying items for themselves or loved ones, these items, stories and memories continued their journey.

To buy authentic Shetland made products and discover more about the skilled makers and what inspires them, check out Shetland Arts and Crafts Association website.