The Waid Academy in the coastal town of Anstruther in Fife was originally built in 1886. Having become a state secondary school with pupils drawn not only from Anstruther, but also from across the East Neuk and its burghs of Crail, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie, the Waid was extended several times in the twentieth century, not least in 1909, 1930 and 1955. Following the last extension the new Principal Teacher of Art at the Waid, James Selbie (1920-84), directed the creation of a ceramic tile mural of the Canterbury Tales (an interpretation of William Blake's 1800 painting, held by Glasgow Museums) in Room 15, the classroom of Alastair Leslie, teacher of English. The work was completed c. 1961. Guided by both Selbie and Leslie several senior school students helped with the work, with Margaret Thomson (née Anderson) largely responsible for the figures. Selbie graduated from Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen, in 1947 and received a post-diploma in painting from Gray's in 1948. This suggests he would have been influenced/taught by Gray's head of painting, Robert Sivell, whose major work of mid-century was a remarkable set of murals for Aberdeen University student union. After graduation Selbie had taught art at Elgin Academy and become a puppeteer.
While still at the Waid, Selbie, together with his new colleague Frances Wilson and several schoolchildren, created the tile and mosaic mural of the Five Burghs (of the East Neuk) in the school hall (completed 1967). It would seem that he was also responsible for the now severely damaged St Christopher mosaic mural on the 'boys'' staircase as well. In addition, he inspired Frances Wilson to continue the school mural tradition, she engaging several children in the seventies on the creation of an abstract, linear ceramic marinescape which she intended for an external wall of the school (but which was instead placed on a gable wall of the new Ladywalk care home in Anstruther).
Selbie moved to Inverness Royal Academy c. 1968. Portraits by Selbie are in the Fisheries Museums in Anstruther and Lossiemouth, as well as Inverness Art Gallery. Further information on him and his work would be very gratefully received! Selbie's murals at the Waid complement John Rhind's fine 'Passage through the Pillars of Hercules' relief (1886) in the tympanum above the main entrance.
