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Scottish fairy tales brought to life

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An artist has brought the fairy stories and myths of Scotland to life in a series of magical and mysterious paintings.

From goblins and gnomes to mermaids, princesses and giants, Brenda Lenaghan has put paintbrush to canvas to create her vision of 38 legendary tales that have entertained people in the north and north-east for hundreds of years.

The 73-year has worked non-stop on the project for an entire year.

But before she could start painting, she had to read thousands of pages of folklore to understand what the stories are all about.

“The wonderful thing about these tales is that they were passed down by word of mouth for generations and generations,” she said.

“I didn’t know there were so many wonderful Scottish stories out there and it’s important we never forget them.

“I have put my whole life into these paintings – I hope they take people back to their childhoods.”

Ms Lenaghan’s creations take inspiration from fairy stories originating from the Highlands down to the north-east of Scotland.

One of her favourites depicts the story of Finn MacCool and the Fingallians of Knock Farril, a legendary tale from Strathpeffer.

It tells the story of Irish giants – Finn MacCool and his warriors – who inhabited the land before people came to settle.

“They loved hunting throughout the Black Isle and wading across the North Sea to the Cromarty Firth, with Finn blasting his hunting horn,” said Ms Lenaghan.

She has even created her own version of Tam O’Shanter, one of Robert Burns’s most famous characters, while another picture – Nimble Men, Blue Men, and Green Ladies – tells the story Merry Dancers, also known as the Aurora Borealis.

Ms Lenaghan said she had “great regard” for Scottish fairy tales, and that she wanted to play her part in keeping them alive.

“These stories have inspired me, and I hope my paintings inspire others and capture their love of Scotland,” she said.

An exhibition of Ms Lenaghan’s work will run until September 27 at the Rendezvous Gallery, in Aberdeen’s Forest Avenue.