Bringing together award-winning underwater photography, exquisite marine sketches and rare Glasgow Pottery recovered from a shipwreck, the Scottish Maritime Museum celebrates the extraordinary world beneath the ocean’s surface in a stunning new Summer exhibition opening on Saturday 7 June.
‘Beneath the Waves’, which goes on show at the Scottish Maritime Museum’s Linthouse building on Irvine Harbourside, has been curated in collaboration with renowned underwater photographer, marine conservationist and writer Lawson Wood; diver and maritime explorer Graeme Bruce; and Ayrshire underwater artist and writer Christina Riley.
In the exhibition, Lawson Wood, who enjoyed his first scuba dive aged 11, draws on 60 years of underwater photography. His images reveal the captivating world of marine life and range from colourful tropical fish and seals to corals and anemone.
‘Beneath the Waves’ also features two rare ceramic bowls which were recovered from the wreck of the 1857 iron steamship SS Eagle off Whiting Bay, Arran, by Oban-based Graeme Bruce and team in July 2024. The bowls were made by Glasgow-based Bell’s Pottery, which is recognised as arguably the most internationally significant producer of ceramic wares in Scotland during the nineteenth century. The lack of surviving pottery from Glasgow’s industrial ceramics period, which spanned three centuries from 1748 to the mid 1980’s, makes the SS Eagle’s ceramic tableware, much of which was destined for trade and exhibition in Londonderry, nationally significant.
Christina Riley’s work focuses on the small details of complex and beautiful marine ecosystems, often highlighting one individual species at a time, such as seagrass or the elegant eggs of a nudibranch (sea slug). The exhibition features a selection of photographs and pencil drawings created during her time as a snorkelling-artist-in-residence at the Argyll Hope Spot.
Part of the global Mission Blue initiative led by the renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, the Hope Spots project highlights areas critical to the health of the ocean. Other Hope Spots include the Galapagos Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
‘Beneath the Waves’ also features artefacts from the Museum’s national maritime heritage collection and exhibits on loan from North Ayrshire Heritage Trust.
Visitors can also learn more about free diving and how this ancient practice has advanced our understanding of marine archaeology and conservation.
Eva Bukowska, Exhibitions and Events Officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum, says: “We are thrilled to partner with three such passionate and experienced artists and marine explorers to celebrate our magical and mysterious underwater world. Visitors of all ages will enjoy this immersive journey into the hidden treasures and stories below the waves. We’re also excited to feature artefacts recovered from SS Eagle, a vessel built by Alexander Denny, the brother of William Denny, whose test tank is now home to our Museum in Dumbarton.”
Graeme Bruce adds: “For me, a shipwreck is a ‘time capsule’ hidden from view over time by the sea. The privilege of being able to explore and connect with the past is beyond description. Enabling the artefacts from shipwrecks to have a new life connecting people means everything.”
Exhibition Talks – ‘60 Years Underwater’
To celebrate the opening of ‘Beneath the Waves’, Lawson Wood will give a talk entitled ‘60 Years Underwater’ at 6pm on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June. During the talk, Lawson, who was born in the Scottish Borders, will chart the early days of marine conservation. He will also describe his work co-founding the Berwickshire Marine Reserve, which is the UK’s largest marine conservation area.
Guests will also a receive a complimentary signed print of a sea anemone or seal.
Visitors can now also purchase three of Lawson’s books in the Museum Giftshop – ‘Marine Life of the North Sea and English Channel’, ‘Scapa Flow 100th Anniversary Edition’ and ‘The Bull and the Barriers (The Wrecks of Scapa Flow)’.
Dive In Day
To celebrate the opening of ‘Beneath the Waves’ and the upcoming World Ocean Day, the Museum will also host ‘Dive-In’, a free day of activities on Saturday 7 June. Highlights will include a sustainability fair; ‘Trashion’ – a community exhibition exploring the damage being done to the planet through fast fashion; a pop-up repair shop and short, guided cycle tours led by Active Travel.
Beneath the Waves
Saturday 7 June – Saturday 13 September
Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine Harbourside
Admission to ‘Beneath the Waves’ is included in Museum admission.
Tickets for Lawson Wood’s talks on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June are priced £10 and are available at: www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org
The Museum is open daily 10am – 5pm. Up to three children go FREE with each Adult/Concession ticket.
