I am helping The Birsay Heritage Trust to raise funds for a bronze replacement of this famous local landmark by donating 25% of the sales from my watercolour limited edition print of the Whalebone in North Birsay. The whalebone finally blew over in April 2023 in a bad gale after previous years of detioration and on going repairs. The Birsay Heritage Trust have taken the decision to replace it with a bronze replica and are now raising funds for thier cause. They have a target of £70,000 which is well underway. The history of the whalebone sculpture is that in the 1870's a large whale was washed ashore below the area where the sculpture was erected. The remnants of the whale lay on the shore for at least 25yrs after a failed attempt to haul the carcass up on to the shore. The erection of the sculpture was done later. The sculpture provided a meeting place for locals where they gathered for picnics, weddings and other rememberances over the many years it stood above the cliff. The totem has always been part of my life and I painted this watercolour of it with the Brough of Birsay in the distance several years ago.
If you would like to help raise money to erect a replica sculpture you can purchase a print by going to
Limited edition /Whale bone at North Birsay – www.janeglue.com
If you would rather just donate towards the fund directly go to
Commemorate the Birsay whalebone!
More information on the project can also be found at
Birsay whalebone – Birsay Heritage Trust