Ewen Thomson is a Scottish luthier, specialising in violins, violas and cellos.

Thomson was born in Fair Isle, Shetland, on 10 October 1971 and grew up in a musical family. At the age of 16 he began studying at the Newark School of Violin Making, graduating with merit. He was the youngest ever student to be accepted onto the course.[1] In 1991 he returned to Fair Isle and set up a workshop. He later moved his business to Sandwick on the Shetland mainland and then to a workshop at his home in Channerwick.

His instruments are based on classical Italian models and are played by, for example, Chris Stout, also from Fair Isle, and members of Shetland band Fiddlers' Bid, Kevin Henderson and Andrew Gifford. Other folk musicians playing his instruments include Bruce Molsky,[2] Manus McGuire, Megan Henderson (Breabach), Bryan Gear, Ross Couper (Peatbog Faeries) and Graham Mackenzie.

Commissions have included violins for the National Museum of Scotland,[3][4][5] and the Mendelssohn on Mull Trust.[6]

Thomson plays fiddle with several groups including Haltadans.[7] He has formerly been a part of Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag[8] and Friðarey.

References edit

  1. ^ "Ewen Thomson Violins". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Great show by Molsky at Muckle Roe Hall". 18 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Fiddle commissioned for National Museums Scotland to be tried out in lunchtime concert". The Shetland Times. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  5. ^ "Fiddle bound for National Museums tested out by cream of local talent". The Shetland Times. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  6. ^ "VMSscotland-Ewen Thomson". Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Haltadans - New E.P. From Shetland Folk Band". www.haltadans.com.
  8. ^ "Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag - A high octane maelstrom of feverish melodies..." Retrieved 24 May 2016.

External links edit