Fionna serves up fish supper painting as gift for mum's 100th birthday
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A CAITHNESS artist did not have to canvass ideas to celebrate her mother's 100th birthday.
Wick-born Fionna Carlisle, who works between Edinburgh and the Greek island of Crete, knew what the ideal gift would be and decided to paint a picture of her mum, Betty, enjoying a fish supper at one of her favourite beauty spots.
Fionna explained that her mother, who comes from Caithness but has lived in the Scottish capital for many years, loves having fish and chips at Longniddry Bents where she likes to sit on sunny days against the backdrop of the Edinburgh skyline.
The painting depicts Betty, Fionna and her partner, John McGurk, in front of the Prestonpans-based Alandas mobile canteen which is in the area between May and September. The background shows Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh Castle and the Forth Bridge.
Fionna said: "We try and get down to Longniddry during the summer months as often as we can. Mum much prefers a fish supper there than going to an expensive restaurant because the food is so fresh and the surroundings are so beautiful. It reminds her of going out in Caithness."
After hatching the plan, Fionna secretly did some drawings in June and July before embarking on the painting. "It took about a couple of months to complete although I was not working on it every day," she said.
Fionna presented the painting to her mother on her 100th birthday on October 30 when family and friends got together to celebrate the occasion while observing all the social distancing and other restrictions that have put in place because of coronavirus. A gazebo was set up in the garden, allowing family and friends to come at different times with their gifts. There was a cheer when the birthday card from the Queen arrived.
"Mum was a bit overwhelmed by the whole day and all the presents but had a lovely time and enjoyed herself," Fionna said.
Betty was born Elizabeth Christina Bain on October 30, 1920, and in the 1930s was well known for her prowess in Highland dancing, winning many medals.
In 1944, she married James Carlisle, who was manager of the sand factory at Shaltigoe, but in 1950 the factory closed and the family moved to Kent before settling in Edinburgh. James died in 1963 and Betty married Joseph McDonald in 1971. He passed away recently and Betty, who ran a guest house in Edinburgh for many years, still lives in her home in the Scottish capital.
Asked what her mother's secret for a long life is, Fionna replied: "She never smoked, likes a glass of Prosecco, has always been very active and loves going out."
Fionna, who has two sisters, Kathleen and Ailsa, and a brother, Hamish, is a highly regarded landscape and portrait painter.
She has been busy painting during the Covid-19 crisis and is working on commissions at the moment. "I am still working but planned exhibitions and a retrospective of my work in Greece has been put on hold because of the coronavirus," she added.
Her portrait of the late UK cabinet minister and MP Robin Cook, hangs in the House of Commons collection, while her portrait of former First Minister Alex Salmond is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
