Artist

See Sound, Sea Shore

Tanera Mòr is the only Summer Isle that is inhabited, and is a magical setting for this most unusual summer course. You will spend a week far away from everyday concerns - there are no roads, shops or television on the island - immersing yourself in the creative process.   By way of a series of linked writing and art sessions, interspersed with relaxed rambles along the shore and private time for contemplation, you will record your experience of spending time in this beautiful landscape by producing a hand-made journal full of your own words and images – a Tanera treasure book of your very own.

No one is ever in a hurry on Tanera, so the week will begin by taking time to adjust to the natural sights and sounds by just going on a wander. Most days will start like this and, during these gentle walks, you will be encouraged to collect mementos, take photographs, make field notes, draw or write anything which comes to mind. You may, of course, wish to do no more than to walk or to sit in silence, which is just fine too.

Occasionally, if the weather permits, as a group we may do a little writing by the shore. All writing sessions are aimed at the beginner writer, are entirely voluntary, and at no time will you be asked to share your work with the group. For those of you who do not wish to join in, there will be plenty of work on this theme by other writers available for you to read and enjoy.

Mid-week, we will have the treat of taking a boat trip around the other Summer Isles and hopefully see some of the seals, dolphins and other marine life that abound in this area.

Most afternoons will be given over to the soothing processes associated with printing and book-making. We will take advantage of the natural surroundings by incorporating the plant life and beach-findings to our art work and, whenever the weather favours us, hold these sessions out of doors. The island Post Office/café, situated on the shore, will double as our studio space for at least some of the time and this studio will always be open to allow you to use the bank of art materials and books during your own private time. During group time, you will make hand-made paper using gathered materials, make collage, do simple mono-printing and lino cutting - all of which will lead up to the construction of a hand-bound, illustrated journal: a tactile presentation of a week spent on this gem of an island off the wild west coast of Scotland. 

On this course I will be joined by Chelsea Frew, a mural and illustration artist who is a graduate of Glasgow School of Art. 

Her charming and fluid drawings are playful in their manner of capturing the essential nature of her subjects and so, for those of us who are not confident of our drawing abilities, her work makes a good model.  In the course of the week, she will lead us through a few imaginative and simple activities to encourage us to let the drawn line lead us along the shoreline and into the very nature of island life in all its forms. 

To see more of Chelsea's work visit http://chelseafrew.com/

Please click on an image to see the full picture.

To find out more about the island visit their website at http://www.summer-isles.com/. 

To read about an innovative community partnership approach to preserving and improving this landscape for the benefit of all, have a look at Coigach and Assynt Living Landscapes. To find out about the fascinating geology of this area go to North West Highland Geopark.