LS Lowry in Caithness

Detail from LS Lowry's painting of the Black Stairs in Wick.

Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976) is best remembered for his depictions of his home town of Salford, featuring his characteristic matchstick men and women.  However, in the 1930s, Lowry spent holidays in Scotland including several visits to Caithness.

During his time in Caithness he painted a number of pictures including both Shore Street in Thurso and the Black Stairs in Wick

The Black Stairs are a broad set of steps made of Caithness flagstone, linking the residential areas above the bank, via Dunbar Street, with the harbour below.  They are a celebrated feature of the town and where part of Thomas Telford's plan laying out Pulteneytown for the British Fisheries Society.  The stairs were laid out in the 1820s. 

The Black Stairs are a broad set of steps made of Caithness flagstone, linking the residential areas above the bank, via Dunbar Street, with the harbour below.  They are a celebrated feature of the town and where part of Thomas Telford's plan laying out Pulteneytown for the British Fisheries Society.  The stairs were laid out in the 1820s. 

LS Lowry's painting of Shore Street, Thurso.

Lowry also painted Shore Street in Thurso during his 1936 visit to Caithness. 
 
In November 2013, his painting of the Black Steps in Wick was sold at auction in London for over £890,000.  Four months later, his painting of Shore Street in Caithness went for £842,000. 
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