Retreat to the Summer Isles

Farewell Visit to Tanera Mor, Sept 2016

After ten years of taking small groups of adventurers to the delightful little island of Tanera Mor, one of the Summer Isles, the island is changing hands and with that will come the end of an era. 

However, I am happy to say that this September, accompanied by artist Chelsea Frew, I will be running one last course on the island - See Sound, Sea Shore - a gentle mix of meandering shoreline walks, dips into poetry, hand-making paper and a few other playful art-related activities which, when combined together, will make for a hand-bound journal full of memories of your visit to this tranquil and utterly natural haven.

There are a few places left so if, over the years, you have been meaning to join me on one of these courses , do try to come along to this final farewell to a wonderful island.

A Sea of Stitches 2017

The 2016 run of workshops started on a high note, with the tremendous success of the Sea of Stitches course, held in Gairloch, Wester Ross, at the end of April. Inspired by the rugged seaside location, the participants produced stunning work. Everyone left tired but happy, carrying a huge bundle of work, and determined to carry on with this expressive form of textile art.  To see a selection of the work made, visit  the Sea of Stitches web page.

I have had a good number of advance enquiries for 2017 from those who have already seen this year's sea of stitches.  So, I have decided to run it twice in 2017, in June and in September, in order to cope with the huge interest. 

To find out the exact dates and details, go to the Course Calendar page.

Open Studio 2016

Jan's Studio in Elphin is open to visitors between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm on the following days:

Spring: 24th March - 10th April

Summer: 9th July - 31st August

Visit the Open Studio / Location  page for more details. 

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Sounds of the Summer Isles

Mairearad Green, the talented and award-winning musician and composer, is bringing out a new album called "Summer Isles".  I am thrilled to tell you that she has used three of my poems, all written during annual retreats on Tanera, as lyrics.  The album is mesmerising: each track, in turn, conjours up the history, the wildlife and the spirit of the place.  The Summer Isles provided the physical backdrop to Mairearad's childhood on the nearby mainland peninsula of Achiltibuie,  and this album displays both the lightness of touch and depth of knowledge only to be found in the work of someone with such a strong sense of place.

If you would like to order a copy of the album, please go to Mairearad's own website.

Buy Work Online

I have spent the winter doing a bit of research, wandering the shorelines of Sutherland and the Isle of Harris, learning about the life forms that inhabit the rocky coves, marvelling at the patterns and textures of the sea, sand and shore and absorbing the subtleties of the colours as they change with the movement of the weather conditions.   And, now that spring is here, I am busy translating these experiences and observations into a series of new, large panels on the theme of the sea, all of which will be exhibited later in the year.  In the meantime, however, you can still buy some of last year's work through the Online Shop, at slightly-reduced prices. 

The last Christmas exhibition  - Enchanted Wood - at the Macphail Centre, Ullapool was a great success, with a lot of work sold.  Chris and Yvonne said that the colourful work brought the place to life and are keen for us to show there again next Christmas.  We were delighted to accept!

Now that Easter has come and gone,  my work is back for sale through Ceard, a new art and craft gallery in Ullapool and also the Achiltibuie Artists gallery, which overlooks the Summer Isles.  If any of you get as far as Staffin, in the north end of Skye, you'll find a few pieces on display there too.