For years he painted the people and landscapes of the East Neuk of Fife and now the daughter of local artist James Selbie is attempting to hunt down examples of his work.
Andrea Borsden has launched an appeal to Courier readers to help her trace her father’s work almost 30 years after his death.
Mr Selbie, a former head of Waid Academy’s art department, was well known throughout the 1950s and ’60s for his contribution to the local arts scene, and even designed the mosaic mural that still adorns the school walls.
Now, in a bid to view as much of his work as possible, Mr Selbie’s daughter, who lives in Inverness, is appealing for the public’s help in reuniting her with some of his work so that she can create a digital album of it.
Andrea said: “When I was younger I did not really appreciate his work to its full potential.
“But now I hear people speaking about him and trying to find out about him and I realise that he was important to people.
“I’m curious to find out how many paintings are out there and how many people still have them. I recently managed to discover one by chance of Boats at Burghead harbour in a Cullen antique centre.
“I must also admit that I would like one of his paintings of Pittenweem as that’s where I grew up and have many happy memories,” she said.
Originally from Aberdeen, James, his wife Filomena and Andrea, lived in Pittenweem when he began working at Waid Academy in 1955.
He taught at the school for 13 years, during which time he would regularly paint for pleasure, producing a large number of pieces focusing on local harbour life.
Two of his paintings are held by the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, while other examples of his work are known to be in Lossiemouth, Inverness and Cullen.
Upon leaving Waid Academy in 1968, he took up the role as the head of the art department at Inverness Royal Academy. As well as painting, Mr Selbie also made puppets for marionette theatres.
He died in 1984.
“I remember fishermen used to come to my father and ask him to do a painting of a harbour for them,” Andrea added.
“I think that it’s important that we preserve our history and people from that generation are beginning to forget.”
Andrea can be contacted on 01463 223322 or via her email address at andrea.maria@btinternet.com