The Wheeling Steen experience
An old cabin, paintings, photographs, gentle music, with the added bonus of coffee and ice cream.
My first experience of the Wheeling Steen Gallery was back in 1994 when the building was a peedie (small) house with framed artwork on the walls. You had to duck to get through the door because when this house was built people were much smaller then. Times change somewhat.
In those heady days of the early nineties, Westray was more isolated, hardly touched or interfered with by folks like myself, an incomer from south. That is another story I shall relate some other time (I’ve said that before on other topics).
It was a privilege in those early days to meet so many interesting people working here in the far north of Orkney. Anybody willing to work can make a living here but it needs grit and determination to put up with the Atlantic gales and very long dark nights that nature gives us for half the year. I love it and I can’t imaging living anywhere else. I have no sympathy for those who move here without doing their homework first and then complain about the winter nights, they obviously haven’t been outside at night and watched the Merrie Dancers or observed the stars, comets and satellites in pitch blackness. Magical! When needing help, the kindness to strangers of Westray folk far outweighs the vagaries of our sometimes annoying weather conditions.
Back to the Gallery.
Run by Edwin Rendall and his daughter Rosemary, the gallery displays photographs and paintings in abundance, with a sideline of greetings cards and as a bonus, very, very good coffee and wonderful ice cream. When you visit you should treat yourself to an Eileen Special ice cream, but that name is yet another story.
The present gallery was erected with everything meticulously designed and crafted by Edwin, where there is a huge display area, seating for discussion and tasting the coffee and in the far end is The Cabin, which had been a deck house on the Emerald, a Norwegian barque which ran aground on the Quoybanks in 1879, dismantled and brought to site and was blocked in to use as part of the original croft house.
Behind the counter and coffee making area is to be seen the original house. The cabin is used to display original artwork and has a small seating area.
Over the years Edwin has sold many paintings and prints to gallery visitors and also through exhibitions in Orkney. You can visit his web site on
If you want to read the full Wheeling Steen story you should contact the Westray Heritage Centre to buy the updated copy of Fae Quay tae Castle (£30 + p+p) and it is worth every penny.
Go to www.westrayheritage.co.uk
If you come to Westray with your dog, please observe the guidance given in this little leaflet, illustrated by Edwin.
For the health conscious I recommend our walks leaflet
My proffered poem for the day
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
Sonnet by John Milton.
My thanks to Edwin for most of the pictures used in this posting and I apologise for any mistakes I may have inadvertently made.
Staying in Kirkwall?
I recommend The Lynnfield Hotel.
Another interesting window on Westray :-)