Drawing on river’s inspiration

A DUNDEE student is undertaking an “artist’s pilgrimage” along the riverTay and raising money for a commemorative First World War project.

Duncan of Jordanstone student Lise Olsen is taking an innovative approach to her degree in art, philosophy, contemporary Practices, by walking from Loch Tay to Broughty Ferry.

During the course of her 78.5-mile trek, which she is completing in stages, she is documenting the experience using photographs, moving images, sound and a diary and incorporating work of local art, photography and walking groups.

“It all started with the quote, ‘Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time,’” she explained.

“I started at Kenmore on January 8 and I have encountered a wide variety of wildlife.”

Since her walk began she has noticed a real change along the river.

“I have struggled at times with access to the river because of flooding but it has been an enlightening experience,” she said.

“When I started in January I didn’t see any wildlife or come across any people.

“The weather is improving and spring is in sight.”

Lise will feed all her work into an exhibition next year and she hopes to raise money for Scone Remembers, a community-led initiatives to provide a series of memorial walks in Scone Woods.

Lise’s father Dr Peter Olsen, who is the chairman of Scone Remembers, explained the thinking behind the project.

“It’s to remember the First World War and particularly those people from Scone.

“There are 37 of them named on the war memorial. We are going to create a series of memorial paths in Scone Woods. Each path will have up to five or six rest areas.

“In those rest areas there will be information on the people on those memorials.

“We’ve got photographs of them and we also want a link between where they are buried in Belgium and France so we want some of the vegetation planted there.”

Lise will complete the last stage of her pilgrimage next week when she will be joined by fellow students to walk from the art college to Broughty Castle.

Picture: Katie Smyth. Lise Olsen, left, and her dog take in the scenery on the banks of the Tay, above.