Nestled in the heart of Fife's East Neuk, the Pittenweem Arts Festival is a beacon of creativity, showcasing an extraordinary range of art, performances, and workshops set against the backdrop of Pittenweem's charming fishing village. This year's Festival takes place from 2-9 August 2025, and Gail McGarva, one of our Shipshape Network Scotland projects, is the special invited guest artist.
GAIL MCGARVA. BOAT MAKER. STORY TELLER.
Gail McGarva is an award winning, artist, boat builder, and storyteller whose work seamlessly intertwines the art of craftsmanship with the rich tradition of narrative. Awarded Heritage Crafts President’s award for endangered crafts 2024, King Charles III Charitable fund: McGarva has dedicated her life to the creation and preservation of exquisite wooden boats, each of which serves as a canvas for stories echoing the maritime heritage of the area.
Her passion for boat building is not just about constructing vessels; it’s about preserving the stories that these boats carry and the connections they forge between people and their environment.
STEP ABOARD VERA, THE STORY BOAT
As festival-goers explore the harbour, they will be drawn to the boat’s unique design; Vera the lerret boat, has been turned upside down and used to form the roof of the Story Boat. We invite you to step inside this miniature maritime world and experience McGarva's deep connection to the sea and her passion for sharing stories through her art.
DISAPPEARING LINES INSTALLATION
Alongside the Story Boat, the Pittenweem Arts Festival 2025 also features McGarva’s Disappearing Lines installation in the Gyle Centre.
This thought-provoking exhibit, explores themes of transience and connection in our increasingly digital world.
As viewers engage with the installation, they will encounter a series of visual and auditory elements that evoke a sense of fleeting moments and memories of ghostly vessels and voyages long gone.
