Local artist Syd Walker’s panorama of Montrose Basin was first exhibited here in ANGUSalive’s Montrose Museum & Art Gallery over 20 years ago when it broke visitor records in 1996. Syd’s family, in partnership with ANGUSalive, now invite a new generation to engage with his most challenging and exciting work.

Syd Walker (1926 – 2015), was born in Birmingham where he studied art. In 1953, Syd caught his first view of Montrose’s sea loch, the year before he married Montrose woman Elizabeth Ritchie.
Syd graduated from Ruskin Hall and Birmingham College of Arts and Crafts and taught art in various colleges, but it was only after marrying Elizabeth and moving back to her home town in 1956 that he set up his own business – a shop in Bridge Street, with nearby pottery and gallery – a year later.

Soon he was painting landscapes which included Montrose Basin, but Syd’s ambition to paint it ‘in the round’ – creating a giant artwork which people could walk into - only took shape in 1994.
A walk to the centre of the Basin with wildlife ranger Rick Goater inspired Syd to create sketches, notes and take photographs which he used to paint 10 panels, creating a 62 foot, 360 degree panorama. Visitors will recognise many local landmarks, including the Steeple and bridges. It took two years to complete and was first shown in Montrose in 1996. After being exhibited in other Angus venues, it was later taken to Luzarches, the French town twinned with Montrose.

A retrospective exhibition of Syd’s paintings and studio pottery was shown in Montrose Museum two years ago when many local people, who had seen the panoramic in the 1990s, requested that it be displayed again..
Syd’s daughters, Fiona and Kirsten, who kindly loaned this artwork to ANGUSalive, are delighted that visitors will be able to experience it. This summer they retraced their father’s footsteps by walking to the centre of the Basin and they will be speaking about this experience and ‘life with Dad’ when the exhibition opens on Saturday 13th October.

Kirsten and Fiona said ‘We are excited, and especially delighted that Dad's Montrose Basin Experience will be open to the public again, twenty years on, in its original venue of Montrose Museum. We both helped Dad to assemble it then, and we’re looking forward to the set up, when we will once again see it in all its glory; a true masterpiece.’

Visual Arts Officer Gill Ross said ‘We are delighted to bring Syd Walker’s Montrose Basin panorama back to ANGUSalive’s Montrose Museum & Art Gallery. It’s exciting bringing the vast expanse of the Montrose Basin surrounded by light and water into one installation for our visitors to enjoy. It has been a pleasure working with Syd’s daughters Fiona and Kirsten who have taken excellent care of this artwork and worked hard to share it with the community of Montrose and beyond.’

One of Syd’s great passions was encouraging people to enjoy art and he ran painting classes in Montrose for many years. As a Scottish Arts Council lecturer, he became well-known throughout Scotland, travelling all over to give painting and pottery demonstrations. In 1998, Syd was awarded an MBE for his services to art in the community.