Banff awaits return of striking Clan Cancer Support lighthouse after local business owner Scott Birnie secures 'Lighting the Dark' artwork for town
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A BANFF business owner who has secured a unique artwork for the town at a charity auction is looking forward to seeing it in place permanently at Banff Castle.
Scott Birnie (40), owner of The Good Sleep Company in Banff, paid £4200 for the lighthouse sculpture at Clan Cancer Support's "Light the North" auction this month.
The sculpture, "Lighting the Dark" by Dundee-based artist Infinite Sky Murals, was one of 50 lighthouse sculptures sold at the grand charity auction, which raised £324,200 in total for Clan Cancer Support.
Clan's Light the North campaign, a partnership with Wild in Art, saw talented UK artists create designs for the 2.5-metre tall fibreglass lighthouses, which were then displayed around the north-east and northern isles from August 9 to October 17.
The lighthouses symbolise hope in hard times for people and families who are facing or have faced a cancer diagnosis, and Clan's role as a safe haven.
People around the north-east embraced the sculpture trail.
The finale offered individuals, businesses and communities the chance to secure a work of art while helping to support the charity's vital work.
The Good Sleep Company had sponsored the striking purple Lighting the Dark lighthouse for the 10 weeks of the trail where it was installed at Banff Castle.
Mr Birnie was determined to see the artwork back in position permanently after seeing how well received it had been over the summer.
He said: "People liked having it as a focal point.
"Towards the end of the trail period, people were putting lovely decorated stones around it with messages of hope, which I thought was really nice.
"If the message behind the lighthouse can bring some sort of peace to people then that's not a bad thing."
Mr Birnie's business has been based in Banff's High Street for five years.
He added: "Because I knew where the lighthouse was going to be, right on the edge of the cliff almost, looking over to Macduff, I was keen to have something that would really stand out, that people would instantly recognise and want to photograph.
"It was a deliberate choice as it's such a bright design. There has been no shortage of photographs of it on social media so hopefully that will continue once it goes back in place.
"It's certainly unique and people will now still be able to enjoy it here for however long it survives the elements."
He said bidding for Lot 28 made for an exciting night.
"Attending the auction really hammered home the importance of charities like Clan and it has really been an honour to support them.
"It's nice to give something back to the community. We're just waiting for a date for its return and can't wait to see it back."
The highest bid of the night was for Lot 38 – "Riding Out The Storm" – created by artist Rachel Davies and sponsored by BP, which was secured by the community of Portsoy for £13,500.
