The story of Scotland's celebrated Fife yacht-building dynasty takes centre stage in a new exhibition opening this weekend at the Scottish Maritime Museum's Denny Tank in Dumbarton.
From Fairlie to the World: The Fife Design Story opens on Saturday, 4 July, and runs until 22 January 2027. The exhibition traces three generations of the Fife family, whose Fairlie boatyard earned a global reputation for craftsmanship between 1803 and 1944.
Alongside historic artefacts from the Museum's national maritime collection are watercolours by marine artist Alastair Houston, whose work captures some of the finest yachts designed by William Fife III.
Born in Fairlie, Houston developed a fascination with Fife yachts after seeing one of the classic wooden designs among modern racing boats. He later founded the Fife Regatta, which has brought many of the famous yachts back to their birthplace on the Clyde since 1998.
The exhibition also features original tools, scale models, plans, historic photographs, launch-day postcards and business records that document the evolution of one of the world's most respected yacht-building businesses.
Eva Bukowska, Exhibitions and Events Officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum, said the exhibition celebrates the family that "shaped Scotland's golden age of yacht design and put Fairlie on the world map."
"Alastair's paintings beautifully capture the elegance and craftsmanship of the Fife yachts," she said. "The exhibition will be especially fascinating for those interested in art, sailing, yacht design and Clyde boatbuilding."
Visitors inspired by the exhibition can also see two William Fife III yachts at the Museum's Irvine site: the restored 1884 racing yacht Vagrant, believed to be the oldest surviving Clyde-built racing yacht, and Powerful, one of only around 50 seaworthy Fife yachts remaining worldwide.
Houston welcomed the collaboration with the Museum. "I am delighted to exhibit at the Scottish Maritime Museum and join with the Museum in highlighting the masterpiece yachts designed and built by the legendary Fifes of Fairlie," he said.
The exhibition highlights the achievements of William Fife I, who founded the Fairlie yard in 1803, William Fife II, who expanded the business during the rise of competitive yacht racing, and William Fife III, whose designs included Shamrock I and Shamrock III, built for Sir Thomas Lipton's America's Cup challenges.
