A highly regarded American golf artist’s skills have helped boost the coffers of two Highland charities.
Nashville-based Aimee Smith’s latest landscape painting captured a view of the bunker laden elevated 5th green of Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course.
After setting up her easel during the club’s annual “Captains’ Invitational Member and Guest Weekend,” the canvas fetched £3000 at auction – contributing to the £26,000 total raised by the annual event.
The charities selected by captains Gary Bethune and Rosemary Muschamp, and boosted by Aimee’s generous gesture, were the East Sutherland Rescue Association, which provides vital lifeboat cover for the Dornoch Firth, and mental health charity Mikeysline.
Gary said: “It was a wonderful surprise when Aimee offered to do a unique painting out on the course to support these deserving causes in our local community.
“It certainly caught the attention of golfers on the links and not surprisingly bidding was intense at the dinner hosted for the first time in the new clubhouse.”
Aimee is no stranger to Royal Dornoch and general manager Neil Hampton noted: “Aimee’s fabulous views of the golf course are always in demand when prints become available and I know some lucky members have originals adorning their homes.”
Aimee was thrilled another panorama of the Championship Course generated such interest among members and guests from home and abroad.
The successful bidder gifted it to his friend, Phil Leonard, who will have to be patient to hang it on his wall.
“Being in oil, the paint takes time to dry fully and I want to add a varnish finish,” explained Aimee.
“It’s a unique piece, painted on site at Royal Dornoch. It was a race against time, given that it was to be auctioned off at the dinner to support amazing local charities chosen by the captains,” said Aimee.
“After arriving in town, I’d set the alarm for 4am and luckily there was a break in the clouds for photography out on the course with the camera and the drone.
“We narrowed it down to two or three possibilities before deciding on the 5th green.
“I set up the easel on the back tee so many of the golfers came over and saw it progress over the two days.
“Luckily, I didn’t have to contend with rain but a gust of wind did blow a bag and a bunch of paper away at one stage.
“So far I’ve been lucky to have painted four public release paintings and two private commissions of the Championship Course.
“Working with Royal Dornoch has been an absolute dream.
“It’s been an honour to visit the course over the years for reference photos and to capture views that so many golfers have fallen in love with over the years.
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“The golf course changes so much with the weather, the light and the seasons. Golfers experience a different course with every visit.
“Looking ahead, I would like to capture a view of the new clubhouse because it has been celebrated so much since opening, and the members are rightly so proud of it.
“In the meantime, the next print release – a view from the 7th tee box – will be released in June.”
