Episode 1

Islay-born artist Heather Dewar combines the role of artist and interviewer, creating colour portraits of well-known Gaels while teasing out of them every little detail of their life story!

Heather meets Murdo Macdonald. Although now living in the town of Penicuik in Midlothian, Murdo has family connections to both Scalpay and North Uist.

As Heather puts crayon to paper, she talks to Murdo about his fascinating life, one that has involved much travel and adventure. From backpacking around the south of France to factor on an island estate and army officer in Iraq, Murdo’s career has been wide and varied. Will the finished portrait convey more than just a physical resemblance to her subject? Will it also reveal Murdo’s spirit of adventure?

Tha an t-ealanaiche Fraoch Nic an Deòir à Ìle air ais le sreath ùr de Dhealbhan Fraoich. A’ tarraing is a’ còmhradh, nì i dealbhan dathte de Ghàidheil air a bheil sinn eòlach – a’ tarraing asda a h-uile criomag eachdraidh-beatha!

Sa chiad phrògram dhen t-sreath tha Fraoch a’ tachairt air Murchadh Dòmhnallach. Ged a tha e a’ fuireach ann am Penicuik ann am Meadhan Lodainn, tha ceangal aige ri Sgalpaigh agus Uibhist a Tuath. Thèid Fraoch an sàs san dealbh, a’ faighneachd do Mhurchadh mu a bheatha inntinneach, làn siubhail agus tachartasan neo-àbhaisteach. Gabhail timchioll na Frainge le pac air a dhruim, greis na bhàillidh air oighreachd sna h-eileanan, agus na oifigear airm ann an Iraq – abair gum faca Murchadh seallaidhean annasach. Nuair a bhios an dealbh deiseil, saoil am faicear barrachd ann na dìreach coltas aghaidh Mhurchaidh? An seall e cho èasgaidh sa bha e gu rudan ùra fheuchainn?

In Gaelic with English subtitles