HELP US ENSURE THIS MAGICAL CREATURE OF LIGHT REMAINS ON ROYAL DEESIDE
Last year, something magical began on the River Dee.
Actor and river activist Jim Murray reached out to the team at TwinPeakesFlyFishing with a unique request: to take a painted canvas and sink it deep into the waters of the River Dee during the salmon spawning season. An unusual idea, yes, but one rooted in purpose and beauty. The goal was to let the river itself interact with the art—to collaborate with nature—and reveal something extraordinary.
The canvas would spend three months beneath the surface, during the critical period when salmon make their way home to spawn, ensuring the future of their species. Whilst Submerged the artwork was not only surrounded by the flow of water but was touched by the river’s life—by fish, by silt, by the rhythm of the Dee itself.
When we finally retrieved the canvas, we could hardly believe what emerged. It was as if the river had whispered its secrets to the art. Patterns, marks, and textures formed in ways we never could have planned or predicted. But most remarkably, within the painting, there were forms—images that seemed to glow. Jim called them Creatures of Light.
The Why – "The aim is for the finished pieces to bring as much awareness as possible to the plight of the UK’s ‘black rhino’—the recently endangered wild Atlantic salmon—and to highlight the challenges our rivers face through this deeply original artistic partnership with nature." Jim Murray
At TwinPeakesFlyFishing, we believe this extraordinary artwork belongs on Royal Deeside, where it was shaped and inspired. We sunk the artwork at the mouth of the Coy Burn in the River Dee, and now we hope to purchase it and place it in the TwinPeakes Fly Fishing tackle shop. This way, all visiting anglers can see it, enjoy it, and reflect on the vital role of the river and its salmon.
To achieve this, we have launched a GoFundMe page. A portion of the funds raised will also be donated to the Atlantic Salmon Trust to support their conservation work for wild salmon on the River Dee.
This isn’t just about art. It’s about action. It’s about honoring the River Dee and ensuring future generations get to see salmon return to their home waters. It’s about celebrating the Creatures of Light and protecting the rivers that sustain them.
We invite you, fellow anglers and friends, to be part of this story. Whether through donations, sharing the message, or simply pausing to appreciate the beauty of our rivers, your support will make a difference.
Together, we can keep the light shining in places like the River Dee—for the salmon, for the rivers, and for all of us.
For all donations over £150, contributors will be invited to an evening drinks reception at TwinPeakes FlyFishing store where we will be joined by Jim Murray and the Atlantic Salmon Trust team to share more about the creatures of light story and ongoing work in Atlantic Salmon Conservation.
#CreaturesOfLight #TwinPeakesFlyFishing #ProtectOurRivers #DryShoesDontCatch