A LOCAL fiddler is appearing on television this week as part of a programme exploring links between Scotland and the Caribbean island of Barbados.

First screened on Tuesday (September 4), Scots in Paradise features the Barbados Celtic Festival – a large cultural get-together held in and around the capital Bridgetown.

And taking centre stage for much of the programme is Riddell Fiddles founder Sheila Sapkota.

The Caribbean festival takes place during the last weekend of May and features multiple collaborations between Scottish and Barbadian or “Bajan” culture.

Musicians, dancers, drummers and pipers all come together for a fun-filled weekend, accompanied by top chefs, serving up much loved Scottish meals with a distinct Bajan twist.

The now popular festival had humble beginnings in the 1990s when a Welsh men’s choir travelled to the island to perform in a local concert hall.

Since then, the celebration has expanded and has featured Celtic acts from Canada, across the UK, Ireland, the USA and even Australia.

Festival director Carol Anderson from Edinburgh said: “We have developed a unique fusion of music from both sides of the Atlantic in this growing festival through our folk and traditional music.

“It’s a great fusion of cultures through music, food and history.”

Among the many acts to perform on the Bridgetown stage have been the Average White Band, piping pupils from Strathallan School in Perthshire and the National Piping Centre, led by Fifer Ian Lowther.

Sheila Sapkota from Selkirk’s Riddell Fiddle made headlines in Barbados this year when she performed with Jenni Borthwick, Robbie Sapkota and locals from the surrounding area of Hastings.

Sheila, who is from Selkirk, also performed with Barbados pupils from the Suzuki Violin School and children from St Patrick's RC Primary, playing Scottish songs taught to them by the St Patrick’s head teacher, Glasgow born Sister Pauline Dempsey.

And several of Sheila's performances were caught on camera for the STV programme Scots in Paradise.

This year's Barbados Celtic Festival closed with a ceilidh, presented by local dancers from the island’s Scottish Dance Society, led by Scottish ex pat Ken Thomson.

The Celtic festival celebrates the shared history between Scots and the people of Barbados.

Around the 1700s, Scottish and Irish immigrants were shipped all over the Caribbean to be indentured servants for the sugar industry.

Since then, descendants of Scots can be found living across Barbados – sharing Scottish surnames like McCluskie, and even last names such as Glasgow.

A small community still lives in what is known as ‘Scotland District’ – an area of the island that became home to settlers when they eventually gained their freedom.

Any musicians interested in taking part in next year’s Massed Band events in May 2019 can sign up at www.barbadoscelticfestival.com.

Scots in Paradise will be available to watch on stvplayer.tv following Tuesday's broadcast.