A Scottish islander’s incredible tale of survival at sea has proved a huge hit after landing on the sands of the Aberdeenshire coast.
Drift – an art show based on the experiences of Shetland crofter Betty Mouat – unfolded at St Cyrus national nature reserve on Thursday.
Director of the show, Symon Macintyre, said the location was the ideal home for the story to be told, describing it as “one of the most beautiful beaches” he had ever been to.
Miss Mouat was 61-years-old when she boarded the Columbine as its only passenger departing her hometown of Grutness for Lerwick in January 1886.
She had been planning to sell her knitting in the Shetland capital, but during the trip a storm washed the captain and crew overboard and she was presumed lost at sea.
However the vessel grounded at Lepsoy, Norway, nine days later and the tough Shetlander was found alive and well gripping for dear life to a rope in the hold.
She returned home to Scotland a national celebrity and lived to the age of 93 on Shetland.
Her story inspired Mr Macintyre to craft the walk-in art project which will run until tomorrow.
Audience members can wander through the work of four artists while songs and other sounds are relayed to them through headphones.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Macintyre said almost 100 people had viewed the show so far.
He said: “It has been quite busy. Even in 1886, people were very interested in Betty, there is something about her and the fact that she survived that time at sea.
“She was an ordinary person that an extraordinary thing happened to. That captures people’s imagination I think. Almost 130 years later it is still a story that has an interest.
“I suppose we’d all like to find the courage and endurance to do that if we were trapped down in that hold with two biscuits and a quart of milk.
“Beaches are places that are meditative and contemplative. This show is a meditation on that condition. It is immersive. You get a chance to reflect on what she might have thought or felt during that time.”