EDINBURGH.- Artists are being offered the residency opportunity of a lifetime – a week aboard a 50ft yacht exploring the remote and beautiful coasts and waters around Arran and the Firth of Clyde.

Not only will they be able to set their own itinerary for their voyage aboard Whimbrel, a beautiful Bluewater catamaran, they will receive a stipend plus travel expenses to and from Troon where it is moored.

Skipper Ben Merritt knows the waters well and says the artists will have the chance to find inspiration exploring wild and seldom-visited spots on islands and along sea lochs.

They might also get close to magnificent marine wildlife including whales and porpoises.

The two free residencies, from 11-17 April, are being offered through Visual Arts Scotland in partnership with Whimbrel’s owners to support and nurture contemporary artists – and complements their work to promote the arts at Marchmont House in The Borders.

Sarah Calmus, VAS President, said: “This is so unusual – there are lots of places where artists can have residencies, but very few of them on water and very few of them are fully funded.”

“It will be a fabulous experience for creatives– having a full week will give artists the chance to go to some wonderful places that they otherwise may not have had the opportunity to see at all. This experience will no doubt breathe fresh energy into their work and having the space and time to explore, to work, to focus is integral to a healthy practice.”

“As soon as you mention this to people they just light up and say ‘wow, I’d love to do that!’, so I think there will be a great deal of interest.”

Applications can be made from 21 December and the offer is open to the 700 existing VAS members and any who join before the 15 Feb deadline. VAS will be offering reduced price and free membership early in 2021 to artists whose incomes have been hard hit by the pandemic.




Mr Merritt, a professional sailor for 30 years who describes himself as “an enthusiastic cook”, will also provide some meals aboard the four-berth vessel. The artists will also have the benefit of his knowledge in deciding where to venture.

He said: “It will give the artists a whole different experience and a chance to get to wonderful places that are very difficult to reach except by boat.

“And as Whimbrel is a catamaran it doesn’t have a deep keel, so it can get into very shallow waters that other vessels can’t.

“We’ll decide together on the itinerary, but it could include spending time moored beneath Carrick Castle on Loch Goil, going to some of the very quiet spots along Loch Riddon, or taking a look around Holy Island and Lamlash Bay.”

Former tech entrepreneur and Director of Marchmont Farms Limited, Hugo Burge, regularly sails on Whimbrel and felt there were superb opportunities for it as an artists’ retreat and for private charter.

It’s an idea that parallels the work of Hugo’s team at Marchmont House, a 1750 Palladian mansion in the Borders, which they have restored and are turning into a home for artists, makers and creators that celebrates innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Hugo said: “The Hebrides and the Western Isles are an oasis of beauty – places I have fallen in love with while sailing aboard Whimbrel.

“So it gives all of us at Marchmont great pleasure to offer this unusual opportunity for an artistic voyage of discovery and we hope to support similar residencies in the future.

“And it’s also wonderful to be able to offer other people the chance to charter Whimbrel so they can discover for themselves the magical and wild locations that have long been a source of inspiration for artists.”

During 2021 VAS members will be able to apply for other supported residency opportunities at Marchmont House.

At the same time, Marchmont House corporate guests and partners will have priority for chartering Whimbrel.