Days like today make living through the northern winter worthwhile. If this is the pay off for the rain and gales we experienced in February, all is worthwhile.

First thing this morning there was blue sky, light southerly wind and a blanket of utter tranquillity across the island.

I was up at 7.30 and after a quick breakfast walked down to the pier to enjoy the moment. There were several caravans parked there with curtains drawn. Crews from the yoal races, after a day of tough competitive rowing and a late night at The Revellers concert, were sleeping in.

I am writing this at 1.30 and little outside has changed, just a little light cloud by midday. Whatever time the sleepers eventually roused themselves, no one missed the best of the day.

It is the last day of the exhibition. I am not expecting many visitors as this afternoon is not only ideal for walking and going to the beach, there is also a farmers’ market being held in Baltasound Hall.

Talking to fellow exhibitor Cheryl yesterday evening it seems her puffin glasses have proved popular and she has several orders. Two of my works have found buyers - which justifies the exhibition in monetary terms.

But for me Unst Modern has justified itself in several other ways. More than 200 people have seen the show. There is no point in being an artist in total isolation. If I have an idea and give it shape, then I want to share it. I have enjoyed standing back and listening to folk looking at work. Their comments give a clue as to how they are reacting to what they see. Sometimes someone appears to walk casually past a picture or sculpture without appearing to register a flicker of a response and then, to my complete surprise, writes a pertinent and appreciative comment about the work in the visitors’ book.

I am pleased that Unst Modern has brought four very different artists together in one show and that four contrasting styles complemented each other so well. I had feared initially that work might clash, all that the four artists had in common was that they had produced their work on Unst.  Thankfully there was no jarring; indeed the four very distinct approaches of the four artists blended very successfully. In some curious and unexplained way, Unst, the place, had influenced what each one of us had done and that showed. Consequently, to use a well-worn phrase, I think visitors found that the whole was greater than the sum of the constituent parts.