The Shetland Isles lie on the 60^th parallel, 150 km north of the Scottish mainland. The isles are the most northerly part of Great Britain. There are over 100 islands in Shetland, inhabited by some 22,000 people.

The Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east move constantly to invigorate the Shetland landscape – and form spectacular seascapes from long sandy beaches to monolithic cliffs and sea-arches.

The isles enjoy a temperate oceanic climate. During summer, the sun remains above the horizon for over 19 hours – and it never gets dark!

Shetland was first inhabited in 3,000BC by Neoliths from mainland Scotland, who lived off the land and  the sea.

5,000 years later, the Shetlanders still live off the land and the sea, the principal industries being farming and crofting, fishing, oil and tourism. In addition to its music, history and culture, Shetland is famed for its birdlife and over 800 rare species of flowering plants and ferns.

There is a saying that God made Shetland last – and he took his time making it – and that is why Shetland is as close to heaven as a mere mortal can get. The Skyinbow violins are so extraordinarily innovative that it is no wonder that they were designed and built in Shetland.

Shetland is an island grouping of fiddle players. Their distinctive playing style and pursuit of melody sets them apart from the world. Kenny Johnson, who was born into this environment, grew up with a keen sense of the Shetland fiddler’s playing psyche. He understood perfection; he understood playing for harmony; he understood that the ultimate in instrument design was that which resulted in a violin being the anatomical extension to the human body: where the violin filled itself with the player’s soul. Where the violin communicated that which would otherwise be silent – the spirit of the music.

Kenny also drew vast inspiration from the land and its people - from the seas and the skies - from nature and the ghosts of the isles.