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St Cyrus beach to host show on islander’s incredible tale of survival at sea

Art installation about the amazing story of Betty  Mouat, Drift. is coming to St Cyrus nature reserve next week. Credit: Daniel Lacasta Fitzsimmons.
Art installation about the amazing story of Betty Mouat, Drift. is coming to St Cyrus nature reserve next week. Credit: Daniel Lacasta Fitzsimmons.

A coastal beauty spot will play host to a unique art show depicting the miraculous survival of a lone islander aboard a storm-battered boat.

The sands of the St Cyrus national nature reserve will act as the stage for the art installation, Drift, based on the experiences of Shetland crofter Betty Mouat.

The 61-year-old was the only passenger aboard the Columbine after it departed from her hometown of Grutness for Lerwick in January 1886.

When a storm washed the captain and crew overboard Miss Mouat was believed to have been lost at sea.

However the vessel grounded at Lepsoy, Norway, with the hardy Shetlander alive and well in the hold after drifting for more than a week alone.

Now Aberdeenshire locals are being given the chance to experience her incredible journey first-hand through the walk-in art project at St Cyrus, which will run from Thursday, July 23, until Sunday, July 26.

Audience members will be able to wander past the work of four artists while songs and other sounds are relayed to them through headphones.

Drift’s director, Symon Macintyre, said he was pleased to be able to share Miss Mouat’s experience to a wider audience.

“I was looking for a story about endurance and courage. What I wanted to show was how courage might come from people you don’t expect,” he said.

“The Columbine had drifted off and she had been put down below the hold. She wouldn’t have known what was happening.

“The guys in Norway pulled back the hatch and there was this woman holding onto a rope down below.

“When people heard this story there was a big hoo-ha. She became a sort of rock star.

“We have managed to capture some of that courage and endurance that she had.”

The installation, produced by Vision Mechanics, lasts 40 minutes and will run from 7am until noon and from 2pm to 9pm every day.