THE ARTIST
A British citizen of Scottish parents, Hamish Douglas Burgess, also known as Jim or Seumas, is now a U.S. resident living on the island of Maui, in the Hawaiian Islands.
He is the owner of Maui Celtic, a business and organization which is a is a cross-cultural link for music events, genealogy, Celtic art and heritage, and information on Celtic nations. The number three, symbolic of life, death and rebirth was sacred to the ancient Celts, and represented by the triple spiral. Maui Celtic celebrates the triple aspect of mind, body and spirit, through history, artwork and music. The triscele can be found in our imported Celtic jewelry and on Maui Celtic logo wear, at the online store at www.mauiceltic.com
We supply Hawaiians, local folks of Celtic descent, and visitors to our beautiful island chain, with quality goods imported from the ancient Celtic lands. Silver and pewter jewelry as well as our specialty gifts can be found at local fairs on Maui, in Honolulu at the St. Patrick’s Day blockparty and in Waikiki at the Annual Hawaiian Scottish Festival, the first weekend of April.
Our website is a great source of information on the history of the Celtic Nations or for Celtic events in the Hawaiian Islands.
Hamish travels to many countries interviewing Celtic musicians for his radio show on Mana'o Radio broadcast Sunday mornings 8am- 10am Hawaii time (worldwide on the web at www.manaoradio.com).
He has travelled the world extensively for 25 years, exploring the cultures of everywhere he lived and visited, settling in the Hawaiian Islands due to their beauty, and great surfing and diving conditions, and the spirit of 'aloha', a sentiment he felt at home with, similar to the friendly hospitality of the old Celtic lands. He worked for many years as a scuba instructor, starting in the U.K., moving through the Mediterranean then the Caribbean Islands, and then the U.S., finally ending up in the Hawaiian Islands.
Previously while living in Cornwall, U.K. he was a graphic artist and screenprinter, also owning his own clothing company. Since permanently leaving Britain, he has focused more on his Celtic roots, and his artistic side.
Coming from Celtic stock (Scottish - he is both a Douglas and Strachan), and living
for many years in a Celtic area of Britain (Cornwall), he has a love of Celtic art and music instilled in him, producing Celtic artwork in different media, photography
from the Celtic Lands, and playing the bagpipes. He regularly spends time in the
ancient Celtic areas of Britain, Ireland and Europe. Recent works have included book
illustrations, commissioned celtic art, commissioned original celtic tattoos, temporary celtic tattoos
and a forward for renowned celtic artist Courtney Davis' latest 'Celtic Tattoo
Workbook' (Volume 2).
In the summer of 2000, Hamish (Jim) Douglas Burgess and Michael Riedel travelled to Scotland to represent Maui and the Hawaiian Islands in "The Millennium Pipe March" , where 10,000 pipers and drummers marched through Edinburgh. This was the biggest gathering of pipers ever, and raised money for the Marie Curie Cancer Research charity. The lads were well received in their kilt uniforms and kukui nut leis! Hamish is a founding member of "The Maui Celtic Pipes and Drums", recently renamed "The Isle of Maui Pipeband", a non-profit bagpipe band serving the Maui community, now with 10 pipers and 5 drummers. As a solo player he is often hired for weddings and other functions, a recent community event being the Lahaina Banyan Tree Birthday Party.
Hamish follows in his brother Dud's footsteps, who is an accomplished artist himself, and is one of Britain's best Celtic tattooists, with clients travelling from all over Europe and even America to have his specialist work done at DNA Tattoo Studio (formerly Atlantic Coast Tattoo Studio), in Newquay, Cornwall, U.K. Hamish apprenticed in tattooing there for several years, and has since obtained a tattoo license in the State of Hawaii, and has worked at Alley Cat Tattoo Studio in Wailuku, Maui.
Tattoo is an often overlooked ancient Celtic artform. Go to the Celtic Art page for an article on ancient tattoo, by Hamish and his brother Dudley.
Hamish's latest work is a new line of temporary tattoos, that can be seen at our 'online store'. The Tattoos and packaging are drawn by Hamish and put together right here on Maui. So far we have two triscele designs and an armband. More to follow soon. They are easy to put on with water and last up to a week. Fun and safe, they are great for kids, with full instructions on the tattoo.
His biggest art piece to date was his "Celtic Chariot", a stationwagon covered in
Celtic knotwork, spirals, and Pictish designs, which was a regular local sight on
Maui for a few years.
A recent piece is a free-standing wood framed glass window, 6' high by 1'wide, with a celtic marine life scene from the reef to the surface, painted in enamels in a Neo-Celtic style.
Hamish's latest venture is as a promoter of traditional Celtic music, producing concerts on Maui.
Recent successes include a 4 concert tour of Maui by talented Celtic music duo TIM READMAN & SHONA LE MOTTEE, a witty Geordie songsmith/guitarist and a smoking hot fiddler from 'Lord of the Dance'.
Last year saw a sell-out concert with ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS - FIRE & GRACE, in the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, said by some to be "the best concert they had ever seen there" !! An amazing performance from the two virtuosos, who received two standing ovations and encores. A great courtyard show beforehand featured KILTS ON THE BEACH (from Oahu and Maui), and THE ISLE OF MAUI PIPEBAND.
"THE EASTER SUNDAY RISING !" was a great music festival at Mulligan's on the Blue featuring SWITCHBACK from Chicago, one of America's most exciting Irish roots duos, and Maui's own 'The Haiku Hillbillys', 'The Maui Pipes and Drums', and 'The Celtic Tigers'.
He has twice now produced two great shows for MICHAEL BLACK (of the famous Irish Black Family), the dinner show at 'Mulligan's on the Blue' Wailea selling out and becoming a legendary night on Maui, with visiting guest LIAM CLANCY joining Michael on stage for a few rousing songs !
AN EVENING WITH THE CLANCY'S, at Charley's in Paia, was promoted on behalf of Debbie Casey of Irish Music Cruises (www.irishmusiccruises.com), who brought the artists to Hawaii. It was a triple act concert featuring EVANS and DOHERTY, AOIFE CLANCY and ROBBIE O'CONNELL, and special guest, Irish music legend LIAM CLANCY. This special one-off event was a highlight of Celtic music on Maui, and is still talked about !
Hamish also promotes a yearly sell-out concert by World Champion bagpiper JACK LEE, this year with top drummer J.Reid Maxwell. He has organised a mini-tour of Maui by top celtic band MOLLY'S REVENGE (with a great live radio session and several gigs around the island), and a great concert by Scotland's leading smallpipe maker and player FIN MOORE and fiddler SARAH HOY.
He also presents a yearly ROBERT BURN'S NIGHT at "Mulligan's on the Blue" in Wailea. Those that missed it will hear about it !
Hamish also plays Celtic music on Mana'o Radio (Maui, Hawaii 91.5 fm) on Sunday mornings, with 2 hours of great Celtic music from 8-10am. For those of you not living on the island of Maui, the radio show will be available live online at www.manaoradio.com ! Local time will be 8-10 am (Hawaii), which with Daylight Saving Time will now be 11am-1pm US/Canada West coast, 12-2pm Mountain time, 1-3pm central time, 2-4pm East Coast, and 7-9pm in Ireland and the UK.
Pictish Warriors -- Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, Scotland.