For the past two summers I have worked alongside writer Christian McEwen, helping to provide a creative retreat on Tanera Mor, one of the Summer Isles. This year we are celebrating the publication of Christian's new book World Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by using its theme as the focus for the week. If you feel that the pace of life is just too fast, perhaps you would like to take off your watch and join us for a week away from it all.

As I hinted in my last newsletter, I have been experimenting with sculptural forms for mosaic. Many of you who have already attended the introductory workshop in outdoor mosaics, and who had seen my early efforts, asked if I could develop a course specifically for sculpture. The first Garden Mosaic Sculpture course ran in March this year, over three days, in the comfort of the studio in Crieff.

There was such a rush on places for this one (no places left), that I am putting on a second Mosaic Sculpture event in September of this year in my own studio. There are now no places left on this one either!

Click here to find out about the 2013 Sculpture Course.

Recently, I completed a large mosaic depicting the life cycle of a salmon, set within a Highland landscape. This was for the Forestry Commission for Scotland, and is now sited at their forest walk and salmon leap at Rogie Falls near Contin, Ross-shire. To see the final work, follow the link below.

This day is for those of you who just want to dip in to the art of mosaic, learning the basic skills and spending a day making a mosaic-framed mirror.

The class in April is already full, so if you haven't booked yet, come along to the repeat session in June!

From March 17th until April 16th 2012 there is an exhibition of the Celtic designs of George Bain at An Talla Solais in Ullapool. Alongside this work is a beautiful display of various textile crafts, created by the local community and inspired by his example. Everyone is to be congratulated on the high quality of their contributions. To read more about this and to see a slide show of the community textile work, visit the George Bain Project page.

This two-day workshop will encourge you to slow down and take a closer look! The art, book-making and creative writing activities will give you a record of the experience.

Visit The Art of Looking for more details.

Compose colour, build texture, draw, write and move from two dimensions into three - all with the power of stitch! This course was a great success this autumn, so I am looking forward to repeating it next year. Click here for more details and to see some of the work of this year's group.

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