The first community exhibition in the newly refurbished Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is inspired by one of the museum’s prize possessions, the View of Inverness painted in 1833 by J M W Turner. Young people from Inverness High School have worked with a digital artist and a writer to produce their own images and poems about Inverness which reflect Turner’s style and subject matter. The exhibition runs in the main foyer from 1st to 25th February.

The watercolour itself, which was purchased by the Museum with assistance from the National Art Collection Fund, is a painting of rare delight and of considerable art historical significance. Turner journeyed to Scotland on six occasions between 1797 and 1834, filling 26 sketchbooks and completing nearly 100 watercolours and some 10 oil paintings. Prior to his third visit to Scotland, Turner received a commission from Sir Walter Scott to provide illustrations for his book Provincial Antiquities and prior to his fifth visit Scott again requested he provide illustrations for his Poetical and Prose Works. His sketches of Inverness, which form part of the Tate collection, and the watercolour, were most likely executed with one of these literary works in mind.

The View of Inverness, which goes on display in the museum each February, shows the activity on the banks of the Ness as well as the old bridge and church spires beyond, bathed in a mystical light.

The project ‘Inverness ReViewed’ has brought together some 17 pupils at Inverness High School with Museum and Art gallery staff and with local artist John McNaught and Glasgow-based writer Mick Parkin to create their own contemporary views and impressions of Inverness, inspired by Turner’s view. The resulting exhibition is well worth a special visit - as is the Turner itself, which requires to be displayed separately upstairs. And yes there is now a lift!

The project is part of the Highland Council’s Cultural Coordinator programme and has received funding from the Scottish Museums Council and the Scottish Book Trust.