An artist has been selected for the cultural challenge of producing new work inspired by spending a year with Orkney’s farming community.

Photographer Rebecca Marr, 36, will move to the islands in January to take up her appointment as artist in residence for the Pier Arts Centre’s Art and Agriculture project.

Currently living in Fife, Rebecca is now looking forward to charting the farming year in a way that helps develop her own work, as well as a range of community projects.

“It’s a huge opportunity and I couldn’t be more excited about it,” she said. “I’m still pinching myself that I’ve been chosen for a project that will allow me to get involved with an industry that touches the lives of so many people living in Orkney.”

Rebecca’s portfolio of previous work helped her selection from a strong short list of candidates interested in taking up the Pier Art Centre’s unique commission.

A collaboration with the poet Valerie Gillies resulted in Men and Beasts, a book inspired by people, animals and their relationship with the land. More recently, she completed a community residency at Adam Smith College in Fife, working with young homeless people and using photography to encourage communication skills.

“I’ve got lots of ideas,” she said. “I love photographing the sky and it will be fascinating to talk to farmers and their families about the way they read the sky to make weather predictions.

“But I’m determined to start the project with an open mind and I’m really keen to hear from people who would like to get involved.”

Carol Dunbar, the Pier’s education development officer, said Rebecca’s enthusiasm and experience made her an ideal choice for an initiative that attracted interest from throughout the UK and as far afield as the United States.

“It was an extremely difficult decision to make,” she said. “All the candidates on the short list put forward really interesting and well presented proposals for the project.

“Rebecca will be bringing a new perspective to a traditional industry. It will be fascinating to see how her work develops as she gets to know people across the agricultural spectrum.”

Hugh Halcro-Johnston, a farmer and Board member of the Pier Arts Centre, was also involved in the selection process.

He said: “With agriculture at something of a crossroads, there couldn’t be a better time for an artist to be involved in creating a portfolio of work that charts all four seasons of the farming year.

“This is an exciting project and I’m hoping the end result will be something really memorable.”

Orkney Mart has a key role to play, as an organisation that lies at the heart of the islands’ agricultural community, and as a social setting where Rebecca can get to know local farmers.

Mart manager Rob Crichton was another member of the interview panel.

He said: “Art and agriculture are usually seen as two very different worlds, so it will be interesting to see how Rebecca brings the two together.

“She has loads of enthusiasm and we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure she’s welcomed into the agricultural community.

“I’m also hoping she’ll use the mart to display work in progress, so everyone involved can see how the project unfolds.”

The Pier’s art and agriculture project will form part of Highland 2007, a year long celebration of the culture of the Highlands and Islands.

It has attracted funding through Partners, the Scottish Arts Council artist residency initiative, from Orkney Enterprise, through the Leader+ programme, and from the Orkney Community Programme for projects involved in Highland 2007.

Anyone interested in getting involved can find out more by contacting Andrew Parkinson at the Pier Arts Centre on 01856 850209.