A new mixed media exhibition promoting the shared cultural heritage of Irish and Scottish artists opens today (Monday, 8 May) in the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

"Journey" features the work of artists from County Roscommon in Ireland and Ross and Cromarty in Scotland as part of the Celtic Links Project. The initiative encourages associations between professional individuals and voluntary groups who work in a wide variety of artistic fields including the visual arts, music, film and video, dance, theatre and community radio.

Celtic Links was set up in 1998 and was funded under the European LEADER II programme with support from HI Arts, the arts development agency for the north of Scotland.

Director of HI Arts Robert Livingston said: "This unique exhibition has been realised by creating strong links between two regions that share a common heritage. A series of workshops and studio visits have taken place over the past two years which has helped promote understanding of shared experiences and the exchange of artistic ideas."

Nine Irish artists and seven Ross and Cromarty artists from a wide variety of backgrounds feature in the exhibition including work by Iain Campbell, Nigel Mullan, Bill Wylie, Pat Semple, Thomas and Lesley Kilbride, Donald Jack and Barbara Douglas Peffers.