Magic of Nairn Games Day captured in painting which artist hopes will raise money for Ukraine Aid
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The magic of Nairn Games Day has been immortalised in oils on canvas by a local artist with the hope the spectacular landscape will be kept in Nairn.
Chloe Furze first moved to Nairnshire with her husband Rupert from Montserrat in the West Indies 50 years ago.
Her painting captures the flavour of games day with crowds enjoying the spectacle relaxing on the links, pipe bands playing, showies and the iconic bandstand in the background and heavy athletes tossing the caber under the watchful eye of judges and the games chieftain.
Chloe is hoping she can raise funds from the painting and donate the money to Ukraine Aid yet keep the canvas in Nairn, with the Community and Arts Centre a possible location.
As 1972 was such an important year for Chloe and Rupert, £1972 is the minimum target that Chloe would like to see donated to the charity supporting victims in the war-torn country. Last week the games returned after three challenging years through Covid.
The Links were again packed with visitors and returning exiles keen to catch up with families and friends.
“I’ve always loved Nairn Games Day,” said Chloe.
“We first came here in 1972 and lived at Regoul for 12 years before my husband’s work with a charity took us south.”
“But we came back every year for the games which we love and is so much part of Nairn.
“The build up to the event is exciting with the bands tuning up in Viewfield and then marching down to the links with people joining in from all directions.
“The ampitheatre of the links with the Moray Firth as a backdrop is quite stunning and I love watching the different events from piping and dancing to the tug of war and races.
“It really was resplendent and at its best this year to showcase the event.”
Watch: Thousands enjoy return of Nairn Highland Games
Chloe said she has sat and sketched over the years capturing her memories of games days gone past and these have provided the basis of the painting.
Her painting has been chosen to go on display during the Nairn Book & Arts Festival in September.
“It will give the public of Nairn the chance to see it and although I’ll retain the copyright I am hopeful we can raise funds to keep it in Nairn for the community to enjoy in years to come.
“The events in Ukraine has touched the hearts of everyone and the proceeds will go to Ukraine Aid. I am also getting prints of the original and some of the proceeds will be donated to the Nairn Games which is so important to the town.
“It’s the last free games in Scotland and has just celebrated its 143rd year and I hope that can continue for many years to come.”
Chloe has captured some of her family and friends in the painting, the Nairn Games Chieftain Lord Cawdor and Lord Lieutenant George Asher and Sam and Lily Hey whose families raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Team Hamish Splash pad and other projects at the links.
Contact was made with Nairn Community and Arts Centre to establish if they would be in a position to assist in receiving donations and thereafter display the painting.
Sam Morrison, Centre Manager said “We have seen the painting and we think it is wonderful. We would love to hang it on our walls so that it can be enjoyed for many years by the people of Nairn’.
The painting has been chosen to go on display during the Nairn Book and Arts Festival ‘Open Exhibition’ Every Picture Tells a Story at Nairn Community & Arts Centre.
The exhibition is dedicated to much missed Nairn artists Mary and John Wilson, and it will run from 31st August to 28th September.
Nairn Book and Arts Festival and Nairn Community and Arts Centre have both kindly waived their commission fees relating to the sale of the painting.
To donate - please visit Nairn Community & Arts Centre reception, call 01667 453476 or visit www.nairncc.co.uk.
