Orkney’s crystal clear air and magical northern light inspires many local artists and those who have been lured to our magical shores.  There are enough art galleries here to keep visitors busy for weeks.  Many have changing exhibitions and run courses.  Other artists work in private studios but exhibit locally.  A selection of galleries includes:

• Appiehouse Tearoom and Gallery, Sandwick.  Photo art and handcrafted flower jewellery
• Britt Harcus, artist and illustrator.  Wellpark Garden Centre, Kirkwall
• Hoxa Tapestry Gallery, South Ronaldsay.  Huge woven tapestries by Leila Thomson
• Land Art, Papa Westray.  Project exploring island landscape.  Exhibitions and touring programmes
• Loft Gallery, St Margaret’s Hope.  Cooperative arts and crafts and exhibition space
• Northlight Studio and Gallery, Stromness.  Work and short courses by tapestry artist Ros Bryant who also carves stone
• Orkney Stained Glass, Shapinsay.  Stained glass workshops and gallery
• Peter Rowland Silversmith, Orphir.  One-off commissions in gold and silver
• Shorelines Gallery, Finstown.  Paintings and prints by Jane Glue
• Waterfront Gallery, Stromness.  Crafts, paintings and prints by local artists. Exhibitions
• Wheeling Steen Gallery, Westray.  Photographs and art by Edwin and Rosemary Rendall.  Tearoom.
• Wheems Felt and Screenprint gallery, South Ronaldsay.  Art by Christina Sargent
• Wildscape gallery, Stromness.  Paintings of Orkney birds and landscapes by Tim Wootton
• Yellowbird Gallery, Birsay. Contemporary art.  Landscapes by Lesley Murdoch, bird painting and bird and moth jewellery by Jon Thompson