A women’s search for her Fife father’s artwork has gone worldwide thanks to The Courier.
Andrea Borsden has so far been able to trace 40 paintings by her father, well-known East Neuk artist James Selbie, after appealing for help from readers last year.
Having launched her appeal more in hope than expectation, she has been overwhelmed with the response from across Scotland and even received contact from as far away as Canada.
“The furthest away painting is in New Zealand and I am hoping to get a photo of it soon,” she said.
“It is of St Monans harbour and was commissioned by the famous Miller boat builders. This painting was used as a cover for a book written by Jenny Miller.
“I have had correspondence from as far afield as Vancouver from an ex-East-Neuker,” she added.
“The email chain which got to him is quite amazing as I had originally sent the link to a friend of my dad’s in Italy.”
Andrea’s search for her father’s work began in September.
Mr Selbie was an art teacher at Waid Academy in Anstruther, but also painted for pleasure and became famous throughout Fife for his interpretations of local harbour life.
Originally from Aberdeen, Mr Selbie, his wife, Filomena, and Andrea, lived in Pittenweem after he began working at the secondary school in 1955.
He taught at the academy for 13 years.
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.
To honour the work of her father, who died in 1984, Mrs Borsden has launched a website chronicling his art.
Andrea told The Courier that having traced so many of her father’s paintings, the possibility of arranging an exhibition would be nice, albeit challenging.
“I know there are more paintings out there and I am still hoping to track down as many as possible,” she continued.
“I have been looking back at mum and dad’s old photos and slides and I often spot a painting in the background and I also remember various other ones he did.
“Hopefully they will surface sooner or later.
“An exhibition would require a great deal of logistics involving insurance and careful transportation of the paintings, but I would like to think it could be possible and happen one day.”
“If anyone missed the Courier article in September and has a painting, I would appreciate them contacting me on 01463 223322 or via my email address andrea.maria@btinternet.com.”
Mr Selbie’s artworks can be seen at www.spanglefish.com/SELBIEArt.