PROFESSOR TOM DAWSON, UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS

Exactly two hundred years ago, William Daniell published the final part of his eight-volume ‘Voyage Round Great Britain’. He’d started his journey in 1813, and over the course of ten years, created 308 drawings as he travelled the entire coast. More than half of his hand-coloured engravings were of Scotland, and he recorded landscapes that was being transformed before his eyes. His detailed images show natural features, coastal industries, harbours and lighthouses, depicting what was new and pioneering for the time. His fascinating illustrations were accompanied with engaging text, presenting stories of current events including shipwrecks and smugglers, sea bathing and American privateers. This talk will show how Daniell’s work remains relevant, helping us understand changes to coastal lifestyles and the environment over two centuries.