The River Tweed has inspired artists for centuries with its scenic beauty and winding waters.
In the 19th C, the work of painters such as Turner, Bough and MacWhirter captured iconic landscapes from the Old Bridge at Berwick to scenes of Melrose from Scott’s famous viewpoint.
The 19th Century also heralded a new age of photography and James Valentine, working for his family company, took some of the earliest photographs of the Tweed in the 1860’s, catering to the emerging tourist trade who enjoyed images of serene waters and historic estates along the river.
The image across is James Valentine, Abbotsford – from Tweed. Gift of Mrs. Riddell in memory of Peter Fletcher Riddell, 1985. National Galleries of Scotland. Abbotsford – from Tweed by James Valentine | National Galleries of Scotland
Through artwork we get snapshots of another time and place along the river and the Tweed continues to inspire a variety of artists to this day. Painters, poets, musicians, dancers – each captures the history, culture and environment of the river in their own unique medium.
Check out the National Galleries of Scotland database of artworks inspired by the Tweed: Artworks | National Galleries of Scotland.
