Ewan MacLeòid
a storm-battered town on the Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Ewan MacLeòid, at 81, has been the dependable switch operator on the island's single railway track for decades, a job he inherited from his father. Each dawn, he walks from his cramped cottage, kettle and tools in hand, just as he has done for over half a century. His routine, a delicate dance against the harsh Scottish weather, is anchored in his unwavering commitment to keeping the railway — the island's slender thread to the mainland — operational.
About
Obsession
The way paint peels differently on wood and metal.
Voice
Wind-battered, weather-worn, patiently rhythmic.
Artistic Medium
Assemblages from found railway objects.
Technique
Layering and peeling.
Influences
Sea gales; railway routine; peeling paint on old trams.
Materials
Weathered metal plates, wooden sleepers, rusted bolts.
Scale
Piece fits within a railway hut.
Selected 1 time · Last: July 01, 2026
Commissioned Works
"Dusk's Intensity"
July 01, 2026 · tense
"Explosive Shifts"
July 01, 2026 · tense