Painting of the Month for September is ‘The Mary Doll, Dysart Harbour’. Painted in 2007, this depicts an aspect of the delightful, small harbour on the west coastline of Fife, which lies close to the town of Kirkcaldy. The painting seeks to capture the interplay of colours on the refracted light of the calm water against the remarkable textures of the extensive harbour wall, which forms a framing device for the composition of the elements of the painting.
The background to this painting is intriguing and well worth recounting. As fans of the popular Jacobite series Outlander know, Dysart Harbour is where Jamie Fraser, Claire and Murtagh were filmed, arriving in ‘Le Havre, France’ . The history of the harbour dates back to 1450, with the subsequent historical and economic development of local industry such as coal favouring its position, and many vessels used the port, as old paintings and photographs depict. However with the decline in local industries the harbour fell out of use. Nonetheless, it remains a popular and scenic spot for visitors to West Fife to take in as they journey around the splendid coastline. Helen’s own roots lie in Dysart and her ancestors lie in the local cemetery. Moreover, Helen’s father, Donald Smart, was a member of the local art club, which was situated close to the harbour.
The registration KY on the boat denotes a Kirkcaldy-registered vessel. According to the Fishermen’s Mission, Scotland and UK have laws that govern the registration of commercial fishing boats according to their port of origin. This helps to identify which vessels are in a given port at a given time.
The Mary Doll is a name that invites speculation: could it refer to a child’s favoured toy or the name perhaps of a loved one?
The decision to undertake this particular painting arose in the course of a visit to the Harbour Master’s House. The latter, with its cafe and resource space, represents a welcome addition to Dysart and its facilities.
Patrick McConnell, Arts Correspondent
Art by Smart 
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