Gallery 495 Cellardyke Trust, Pennant 648

Gallery 495 overlooks Cellardyke Harbour, on the Firth of Forth; with the Isle of May National Nature Reserve on the horizon and more recently a field of wind turbines, fishing boats, cruise ships and occasional supply boats pass by going to Pittenween market, the Forth bridges and Rosyth docks. Stand up paddle boarders; kayakers and ‘wild’ swimmers play in the harbour and along the coast. Dolphins swim up and down, visible on calm days; and, further out, whales. Cormorants dry their wings sat on the skerries; and gannets dive in the open seas. In spring eider ducklings come into the harbour in their nurseries and migrant waders stop off to feed in the shallow waters. In summer the swifts screech over the water and in late summer swallows gather twittering on the wires.

Cellardyke Harbour, also known as Skinfast Haven, is developed from a natural haven with skerries (ancient rock formations) offering some protection to the coastline here. There are fossils of giant fern stumps; contorted strata from volcanic activity and plenty of rockpools. The stones of the piers remind us of the Haven’s long history.

With climate change has come a change in weather patterns. The easterly storms bring swell from Scandinavia that batters the haven pier and reminds us of the force of nature.

Easterly storms wash nesting birds off the cliffs of the Isle of May and seabirds already back at sea struggle to find food to stay alive. Factory farming of poultry has worsened avian flu; over fishing and warming seas has impacted seabird food sources. Kittiwake, puffin, artic tern and great black backed gull are birds nesting on the Isle of May which are on the National red list of bird populations of concern.

We pledge to keep Gallery 495 as a venue for artists to share their art that draws inspiration from their environment:-

“Gallery 495 provides an installation space in the phone box for exhibits responding to the space and site; with an environmental theme – climate change, sea, human endeavour, communication.”