The GAFFER Exhibition: A Century of Maritime Heritage Through Art will be held from November 2, 2024, to February 2, 2025, at the Scottish Maritime Museum, Linthouse, Irvine Harbourside. This exhibition, presented by the Law family, will feature GAFFER, a unique multimedia celebration of the centenary of Kirsty, one of the last surviving Loch Fyne Skiffs. Kirsty, built in 1921 and preserved for over 25 years by the Law family, will be showcased through a captivating blend of art forms.

Visitors can expect to see historical and contemporary photography, salt and peat paintings, original music compositions, maritime artefacts, moving image installations, and interactive sound experiences at the exhibition. The artists involved include Pat Law, a lead artist working across drawing, painting, film, and installation, Mhairi Law, an award-winning photographer specializing in rural environments, Kirsty Law, an innovative Scots song maker and singer, and Andy Law, the technical producer.

Highlights of the exhibition include an opportunity to discover the rich maritime heritage of Scotland’s West Coast, explore the artistry of traditional boatbuilding, experience the intersection of art and maritime history, and uncover the stories hidden in Kirsty’s timbers.

Additionally, visitors can learn that the exhibition title ‘GAFFER’ comes from ‘old gaffers’, the traditional term for boats with a gaff sailing rig like Kirsty’s. Kirsty, built by John Fyfe of the Ardmaleish Boatyard on the Isle of Bute, represents a unique piece of Scottish maritime history.