Vision 2026 End of Year Exhibition
UHI Shetland is pleased to present the 2026 Fine Art Degree Show, an exhibition celebrating the work of graduating students from the BA (Hons) Fine Art degree programme.
Opening on Friday 5 June at 6pm at the Gremista campus in Lerwick, the exhibition marks the culmination of four years of study and creative development. Featuring work across painting, printmaking and mixed media, the show offers visitors the opportunity to experience a diverse range of contemporary practices shaped by themes of identity, memory, place and everyday life.
The exhibition brings together the work of graduating artists Tayla Hanks, Estella Smith, Susan Linklater and Emma Eunson, each presenting a distinct body of work developed through personal research, experimentation and sustained studio practice.
From intimate reflections on memory and domestic life to expressive responses to landscape and environment, the exhibition invites audiences to spend time with work that is thoughtful, immersive and deeply connected to lived experience.
“Each year the Degree Show offers a real insight into the commitment, curiosity and individuality of our students, and this year’s exhibition is no exception. The work on show reflects four years of sustained creative development and demonstrates a thoughtful and ambitious range of approaches to contemporary art practice. We’re delighted to welcome the public into the exhibition and to celebrate the achievements of our graduating students alongside the wider Creative Industries community at UHI Shetland.”
— Kristi Tait, Site Leader Fine Art at UHI Shetland
Alongside the degree show, UHI Shetland will also showcase work from across its wider Creative Industries programmes, including Masters Art & Social Practice, NC Art & Design Portfolio, Senior Phase 5th and 6th Year Art, Woven Textiles CPD, and the Eric Gray Lifeskills and Forward Directions classes.
The exhibition also offers an opportunity for prospective students to learn more about studying art at UHI Shetland. Applications are now open for students interested in beginning the NC Art & Design course or the BA (Hons) Fine Art degree in September 2026. Staff and students will be available throughout the exhibition to discuss courses, creative pathways and studying within Shetland’s vibrant artistic community.
The exhibition is free and open to the public from 5–19 June. Students will be present throughout the opening evening and during selected exhibition hours, offering visitors the chance to meet the artists and discuss their work and creative processes.
Featured Artists
Tayla Hanks
Tayla’s practice explores identity through dreams, childhood experiences, relationships and memory. Working with water-soluble oils, charcoal, pastels and mixed media, she creates symbolic and introspective works that move between the personal and universal.
Estella Smith
Estella’s paintings focus on domestic scenes and women’s work, drawing attention to moments of quiet concentration and care. Her work reflects on family connection, generational work ethic and the value held within everyday tasks.
Susan Linklater
Based in Levenwick, Susan works across painting and printmaking. Inspired by running along Shetland’s coastline, her expressive works respond to changing weather, movement, light and the shifting atmosphere of the sea and sky.
Emma Eunson
Emma’s work examines memory, personal histories and the significance of everyday objects. Combining analogue and digital processes, she explores how memories are formed, altered and revisited over time.
Exhibition Information
Dates: 5 – 19 June 2026
Location: UHI Shetland, Gremista, Lerwick
Opening Hours:
Monday–Friday: 10am–4pm
Saturday 6 & 13 June: 10am–4pm
Admission: Free