Shine a light for Thurso artist tonight
Tonight (November 1) sees the culmination of several years of hard work for over 50 artists, including one from Thurso, with a charity lighthouse auction.
The "Light the North" lighthouse trail auction shines a light across the north-east and Northern Isles and in turn, helps to spread awareness and raise funds for Clan Cancer Support services.
Tonight's auction of 50 lighthouse sculptures includes one by Thurso artist Shelagh Swanson who used glass recovered from Scottish shorelines to create a design called Arista – the name of one of Ariel’s sisters in The Little Mermaid and means "harvest" in Latin.
Shelagh said: "Sea glass is known to be a symbol for healing and renewal. We may believe that we are not valued, or feel damaged and hopeless like a piece of broken glass.
"Over a period of years, glass discarded in the sea is smoothed, its rough edges softened and it becomes something of beauty which is eventually picked up on a beach and admired. A metaphor for transformation and renewal of life."
To create this sculpture, Shelagh asked the public to harvest their local shorelines for "sea glass" – also known as mermaid’s tears – with pieces being sent from all around Scotland and overseas.
Each lighthouse has a lot number shown next to the sculpture image. The auction will run in lot number order and Shelagh's piece is lot 20. Eight smaller lighthouse sculptures are also being auctioned this evening. The lighthouses are made of fire-resistant fibreglass. Each large lighthouse is approximately 2.5m tall, 75cm wide at the base, and weigh approximately 50kg. The little lighthouse is approximately 1m tall, 35cm wide at the base and weigh approximately 10kg.
You can bid in person at Thainstone Auction Mart or online at www.lightthenorth.co.uk/event/light-the-north-auction/
There is no limit on the number of sculptures you can bid on or purchase.