Are you interested in developing your art during an extended stay in the Shetland Islands, halfway between Scotland and Scandinavia? With accommodation in one of Shetland’s most spectacular locations, Hillswick in Northmavine?

The Weaving Shed is a gloriously renovated building of great historical interest, on the seafront in the village of Hillswick. It was restored and rebuilt in 2017 by Geoff Jukes, as a tribute to his late partner Jeannette Obstoj. The first floor comprises Geoff’s own separate family apartment.

A gallery on the ground floor houses a permanent exhibition of Jeannette’s paintings. It is also used for community activities such as yoga classes, film shows and musical performances. It contains professional sound and projection systems.

Adjoining the downstairs gallery is a studio apartment with fully-equipped kitchen, comfortable double sofabed, dining area and bathroom. There is a television, hifi and broadband. Towels and bedlinen are supplied.

This apartment is now available to artists in any discipline who wish to spend a minimum of four or more weeks in Shetland, as part of the local community.

Based on similar artist-in-residence accommodation in Shetland, the value of this programme is in the region of £500 per month. The Weaving Shed Gallery is not a commercial venture. To help us cover expenses for use of the apartment. We ask for £125 a week, towards covering running costs. A deposit of £100 is required, prior to arrival and this will be refunded after your stay, pending a property inspection. The Weaving Shed Gallery Management Team looks after the Weaving Shed on Geoff’s behalf and administers the creator-in-residence project.

You will be responsible for your own travel to and from Shetland and transport while on the islands. It should be said that while there are daily bus services between Hillswick and the island capital Lerwick, 40 miles away, a car would be a major advantage. The local community shop and post office is next door, and Hillswick also has a hotel with bar and restaurant and a health centre with 24-hour on-call GP. There is a wildlife sanctuary nearby.

The apartment is suitable for an individual or a couple, but it is extremely compact. It is unsuitable for a family or pets. There isn’t a dedicated workshop space suitable for high-impact crafts, although part of the gallery could be used for low-impact studio purposes providing the space isn't being used for another exhibition. Other local creators have offered the use of facilities such as kilns for those working in ceramics and there could be further opportunities to share resources, if this would be useful.

Space in gallery can be used by prior agreement when booking your residency.

We are interested in creators in literature, music, painting, sculpture, cinema and beyond who are excited at the prospect of a cultural exchange between themselves and the local community.

We would expect some sort of output – either workshops or an exhibition/performance that reflects the creators’ relationship with the community, it’s local culture, wildlife, geography and history. While in residence, the artist may be expected to open the private Weaving Shed Gallery on request to interested visitors and ensure its security at all times. If the Creator wishes to have an exhibition as part of their time in Residence. Then the daily /weekly charge is waivered. Our policy is a commission of 35% on all items sold to be paid to the Weaving shed.

We would also ask that creators prepare a short report of their experience with examples of the work, before you leave. This would be used by us as promotion.

To apply, please provide the details requested below:

• A CV, with qualifications, publications, recordings, showings and exhibitions
• A statement of no more than 300 words about why you would like to come to The Weaving Shed, what you would gain from being part of the local community, how you might contribute to it and how long you would like to stay. (Residencies are between 4 – 20 weeks)
• 6 images of examples of your most recent work
• 2 references.

If you have any queries, or to submit your application, please e-mail: weavingshedhillswickairbnb@gmail.com

Note: Neither Geoff Jukes nor The Weaving Shed Gallery Management Team takes any responsibility for the Creator-in-Residence’s materials, transportation or subsistence during their stay. Although the building is insured, the artist is expected to provide their own personal insurance covering themselves and their property and take responsibility for any damage or breakages caused. The artist would be expected, in addition to the duties outlined above, to engage with local media during their stay.

Amanda Watson - Creator in Residence, October-November 2025

My main interests as an Artist lie within the natural world, landscape and seascape. I’m particularly attracted to wild places and wild weather, which I believe Shetland has in abundance. Mountains, sea, cliffs at the edge and the effects the weather and light has on these structures attract me. I paint in oils on board and canvas, draw with charcoal / graphite on paper.

Whilst in Hillswick, I spent time on the coast, drawing and taking photographs. The edges, the nooks and crannies of the varied coastline, the beaches, sea cliffs, stacks or just looking out to sea all hold a fascination for me. Experiencing it in varied weather conditions and noticing the effect this has on the land and sea,

It's one of the spots I found on my first visit to Eshaness cliffs. When I saw it, I just knew I wanted to paint it. Looking West, Eshaness. Oil on board, 52 x 40.5cm

amandawatsonartist.co.uk

Suzanne Morlock - Creator-in-Residence at the Weaving Shed, in Spring 2023.

Suzanne Morlock explored the intersection of recycling and creativity in a community-wide invitation to make art using the sun to develop prints! Called cyanotype, this old fashioned blueprinting technique has been adopted by photographers and other artistic makers to explore visual possibilities.

April is the month for the Da Voar Redd Up and the celebration of Earth Day. In April 2023, Suzanne visited the local schools where students made sun prints using bits of marine debris, recycled and natural materials and their own drawings to make magical blue and white prints. These are the culminating prints made by children in North Roe, Ollaberry and Urafirth Primary Schools with their hopes for a brighter environmental future.

Words from Suzanne regarding her time in Hillswick -

Our time in Hillswick was really wonderful and the pop-up exhibit was a fitting culmination of the work we did while in the area. It was truly a pleasure to share this alternative photo technique with so many!
The children used bits from the sea, bits that would have been discarded from daily use, found objects, drawing and the theme of the beach clean up and Earth Day as inspiration and the sun to develop the prints!

Many thanks for the work that you are doing to help share the message of Climate Change Children's Voices book out into the world and to Northmavine for their openness in providing a way for children to express themselves related to climate change. It's important work.

Our pop exhibition - was a celebration about creativity, environment and community and includes art work made at all three primary schools in the area and the work of folks who have come to the gallery space during the past 6 weeks. Using a solar printing technique -- bits of sea waste and other interesting discarded materials have become the starting point for some amazing art!

suzannemorlock.com

Jan Yates - Creator in Residence 2019

Living at the Weaving Shed Galery in Hilswick, Shetland for four months has, in many ways, been a privilege and it is impossible for me to articulate how this residency has not only fed my artistic sensibility, but also enriched my wel being.

My state of being was not wel upon arriving in February as I did not come alone. I won’t elaborate but my new, unwelcome 24-hour companion named ‘grief’ accompanied me, so the isolation of winter with no one about, not having to worry about other humans intervening, alowed me to be raw.

I did welcome the company of peerie humans that assisted me in research during weekly visits to Urafirth Primary School. This colaboration resulted in a ‘murmuration’ bird kite, made from found beach bruck and flown against the sea, drawing attention to how litter and climate crises are changing and devastating migration.

I soon fell into a daily ritual of wandering land and sea lines alone, painting, making ephemeral landworks and burnings in dialogue with weather and tide. I knew at some point the paintings at least, should be experienced by other humans. Although I post new work via social media, it is altogether different then the intimacy –and vulnerability-of having persons respond to it ‘in the flesh’.

I braved up and hung the unframed plein air paintings with baited breath and was delighted with the response. Visitors from afar were intrigued however I was especialy moved by locals who related to the work, commenting on sense of place and very much being ‘Shetland’. Some, knowing the terrain of the North Mainland, recognised locations where the paintings were created.

The images by painter, lyricist, video-maker, poet and lover of al creatures’ great and smal, Jeannette Obstoj, hang permanently on the wals of the Weaving Shed Galery. Being with Jeanette via her work whilst making my own has somehow been a comfort and continues to resonate. I miss her presence, her humour and the Samyodes. Many visitors to the galeryexpressed interest in Jeanette’s broad range of works spanning many years and I thoroughly enjoyed giving them tours.
As my time in Hilswick closed in, the season coloured and the light lengthened. I stayed longer and longer on the beach, going out at low tide, seals and sea birds for company as I watched, listened and breathed in as much as I could. Now, back in my city ‘home’ I close my eyes and conjure (frequently), then wonder what wil come through and how I wil soldier on.

Geoff Jukes thank you for your kindness, for your compassion, for your humanity. For making it possible for artists that otherwise might not have the means or opportunity to take flight.

To the Northmavine Development Company, I’m grateful for the experience of living in the North Mainland. It is a place I’ve longed to stay and wander since my first visit to Shetland. It is beautifuly different then anywhere else. Thank you Tom Morton, I so appreciate your attention in making me feel comfortable and in orchestrating the school project as wel as publicity and instantly responding to any queries I had. I’d also like to mention how much I enjoyed connecting with the many members of the community I met by chance or in their visits to The Weaving Shed Galery. Unknowingly, they helped me ‘come round’.

With sincere gratitude
Jan Yates

instagram - janyates.com