An Inverness woman’s bid to track down all of her father’s paintings has taken her to a royal doorstep.
James Selbie spent his career painting the harbours and coastal scenes of the north and north-east.
Earlier this year the Press and Journal reported that his daughter Andrea Borsden was trying to locate each item in his huge body of work to create an online catalogue.
In the past five months, she has collected details of more than 80 paintings, including one oil painting which hangs at the Queen’s Scottish residence, Balmoral.
And Mrs Borsden and her husband have visited the castle to photograph the artwork, which depict Findochty harbour.
She said she was delighted to be allowed to see the work and record it for her website.
But the search goes on.
James Selbie was born in Aberdeen in 1920 and graduated from the city’s Gray’s School of Art.
He later worked as an art teacher at Elgin Academy, Waid Academy in Anstruther, Fife, and Inverness Royal Academy, where he worked from 1968 until his retirement around 1980.
Mrs Borsden said: “I am delighted that I have now more than 80 photographs of paintings on the site and I am grateful to everyone who has contacted me and sent a photo.
“As a result of the Press and Journal article about my bid to track down Dad’s paintings, I had a pleasant surprise.
“A relative from Aberdeen I did not know existed contacted me. Since then we have been in regular contact by e-mail and are hoping to meet up. He also owns one of Dad’s paintings.”
She said that former friends had also got in touch.
Mrs Borsden said she was also pleased to find a painting of the Seatown, Cullen, which she remembered hanging in the family’s living room at Balloch, Inverness.
She still believes there are many more to add.
Mrs Borsden said: “I have been looking back at old photos and slides and often spot a painting in the background, as well we remembering various ones he did.”
In the long-term, she hopes that it will be possible to hold an exhibition of his work.
Mr Selbie’s work also included puppets and mosaics.
Duncan Forbes Primary and Muirtown Primary have elaborate mosaics created by Mr Selbie, and Mrs Borsden is trying to track down information about her father’s puppets in Inverness Museum.
His mosaics are also on display at Waid Academy, St Bride’s Church, Newtonmore, and the Barn Church at Culloden.
Anyone with information about a painting can contact Mrs Borsden on 01463 223322 or by e-mail: andrea.maria@btinternet.com