About Crail Museum & Heritage Centre
Crail Museum was opened by Crail Preservation Society in 1979. It became an independent trust in 1993. The museum is run and looked after entirely by volunteers whose motivation is to show the history of Crail and tell the stories of the people who have lived here. It provides an insight into the past life of this ancient Royal Burgh – its Kirk, seafaring tradition, Crail Golfing Society (founded in 1786 – the 7th oldest in the world!) and the fascinating Crail Airfield history – HMS Jackdaw, Fleet Air Arm station, HMS Bruce Boys Training School and Joint Services School for Linguistics.
It is a well-loved museum – many visitors return time and time again to experience this little Crail gem.
Crail Museum holds many gifted artworks and it is our ongoing commitment to ensure they are displayed for public enjoyment as often as possible.
Why are we crowdfunding?
In 1981, Crail Museum was bequeathed a beautiful 19th century oil painting of Crail Harbour and Village by renowned Scottish landscape artist David Owen Martin. The painting has been on public display in Crail Town Hall for many years. It now is desperately in need of restoration and conservation work to restore it to its former glory and to preserve it for future generations. We are crowdfunding to fund this essential work.
About the artist
David Owen Martin (1865 – 1936) was a Glaswegian painter of landscape and coastal views especially of the Kingdom of Fife. Trained at Glasgow School of Art, he exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Institute of Painters of Watercolours and the Glasgow Institute of Fine Art.
About the painting
David Owen Martin’s large oil on canvas - “Crail Harbour and Village from the Sea” - was painted sometime before 1897. It is said to be his finest oil.
The painting was bequeathed to Crail Museum in 1981 by a lady, Miss Jones who lived in Castle Street, Crail. She won the painting in an Art Union raffle in Glasgow in 1897 at the age of 4!
She stated, in her gift of the painting, that it was never to leave Crail. In accordance with her wish, it has always hung in Crail Town Hall.
Restoration and Conservation
With the passage of time, the painting is now in poor condition. Its state has been evaluated by experts and, very fortunately, conservation and restoration will be able to restore this beautiful artwork.
The painting featured in our successful August 2024 exhibition ‘Hidden Heritage – Crail’s Art and Artists’ in which we displayed many artworks from the museum’s collection, most never before publicly shown. From this exhibition we raised £1050 towards the restoration of this David Owen Martin painting.
We have also received a generous contribution of £2000 from the Crail Common Good Fund and £200 from The Art Society.
The evaluation by experts provided us with an estimate of £5934 to carry out the restoration work. This is not a fixed price since further issues with the painting may be found once work commences.
So, from this crowdfunding we are seeking to raise £3250.
The Work
Some examples of the work required to the painting - not an exhaustive list by any means – are:
- removal of existing surface dirt, trapped debris, adhesive residues and patchy discoloured varnish/overpaint
- repair of puncture damage
- treatment of canvas deformations
- removal/adjustment of old repair and filler
- application of new repair patch
- cleaning and preparation of stretcher
- final retouching and varnishing
Many other essential repairs to the painting are also required.
The frame itself needs extensive reconstruction, strengthening, repair and to be fitted with low-reflective museum glass.
How can you help?
Please donate what you can to help Crail Museum fund the conservation and restoration work that this painting deserves.
Any size of donation will be most gratefully received!
Will I be able to see the painting?
When the work has been completed, the painting will be returned to its home in Crail Town Hall where it will be on display. Crowdfunding contributors will be invited to an unveiling ceremony at the Town Hall to view the restored painting and discover its repair and conservation journey.
Thank you