Dougie Shearer‘s grandfather, D.B. Peace, was a pioneer of cinema in Orkney, opening the Electric Theatre in 1912. Dougie was born in that same year so grew up steeped in the world of film and photography. It’s therefore unsurprising that Dougie developed an interest in photography. He had been recording local musicians and releasing the recordings through the label Phoenix Recordings, and had started to take photographs for the record sleeves. This move into photography resulted in the setting up of Phoenix Photography in 1965, later to be joined by his nephew Donald Shearer.
Phoenix photography covered events in Orkney until the late 1980s, with Dougie winding down in the mid 1980s and Donald carrying on for a few more years. In addition to social photography they recorded many major events in the history of the islands such as the construction of the oil terminal on Flotta. Dougie Shearer kindly gifted his entire photographic collection to Orkney Archive in the 1990s. He died, aged 89, on 16th March 2002.
St. Magnus Fair, Kirkwall, 1984 
Skipper Davie Irvine on M.V. Otter Bank at Shapinsay pier. Operated as a floating Bank by the National and Commercial Bank of Scotland (later Royal Bank of Scotland) from May 1962 until 1969. 
Unveiling of the Memorial to the crew of Longhope Lifeboat “T.G.B.”, lost while going to the rescue of S.S. Irene on the night of Monday 17 March 1969. The memorial was unveiled in North Walls cemetery. 
Remedial and restoration work in St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, in the 1970s. 
Jo Grimond, Member of Parliament for Orkney & Shetland from 1950 – 1983 and Leader of the Liberal party from 1956 – 1967, photographed with his wife Laura Grimond and their son Magnus outside their home, The Old Manse, Firth. 
Angus Brown fishing with a handline off Hoy with the Old Man of Hoy in the background. 
An aerial photograph of Stromness and the Holms from the East, in the 1970s 
An aerial photograph of the remains of Skeabrae RAF Station, Sandwick, c.1970s. Originally planned as Royal Naval Air Station it was commissioned in November 1939. Sold off in 1957 
An aerial photograph of the Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm, c. 1970s, showing the hut bases of POW camp 60 which held 550 Italians. 
Flotta, during construction of the Oil Terminal, 10 August 1979. The first phase of the terminal was built by Occidental of Britain Inc. between 1974 and 1976 and was officially opened on 11 January 1977. 
Piper Mac Robertson playing a march titled “Flotta’s Hammer” that he had composed for the occasion. At the inauguration ceremony of Flotta Oil Terminal, 11 January 1977. On the left is Dr. Armand Hammer, chairman of Occidental Inc., then UK Energy minister Tony Benn and Tom Rosie, Flotta’s oldest resident. The terminal was built by Occidental of Britain Inc. between 1974 and 1976. 
An aerial view of the ruins of St. Magnus Church, Egilsay c. 1970s. 
The engine room on the Northern Lighthouse Board tender NLB Pole Star c. 1970s. 
An aerial photograph of the centre of Kirkwall showing St. Magnus Cathedral and the surrounding area, c.1973 
“Horses” on parade at a Festival of the Horse, St. Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay. 
The Ring of Brodgar, Stenness