For many young people in the Highlands craft is perceived as either cheap tartan gifts in tourist shops or some arty thing that doesn’t have much to do with them.

It was in response to this misconception that a three year project was initiated to place a craft maker-in-residence for a term in a school in all eight areas of the Highlands.

As well as transforming their perception of craft the residencies give pupils an opportunity to experience the sense of achievement of creating something with their own hands and may even influence their choice of careers.

Now in its second year, the project, run by Highland Council and funded jointly with Scottish Arts Council, will culminate in a major touring craft exhibition in 2007, the year that Scotland celebrates Highland culture.

In the first year school pupils in Caithness, Wester Ross, Mallaig and the Small Isles worked with either textile artist, Jeanette Sendler, metal artist, Rachel Higgins or designer Paul Topen. The work produced by the makers during their residency, along with pieces by other invited makers, and designs by pupils, is currently on tour in the exhibition ‘Over the Hills & Far Away…’, a name chosen to reflect the way many people perceive the Highlands of Scotland.

The second group of residencies are now in progress and four makers, selected by the pupils themselves, are currently teaching and being inspired by the Highlands.

Jeweller Gilly Langton was selected for the Skye and Lochalsh residency and is based at Plockton high school. She is passionate about creating precious things for people to hold, wear and cherish, and is enjoying exploring the Highlands and passing on her skills to the pupils. A Showcase exhibition of work by Gilly along with jewellers Anna Lewis and Maike Barteldres is on at Plockton high school until July. It will move to An Tuireann on Skye later in the year and a selection of work by her is also on display at the Plockton Gallery.

Environmental artist Tim Johnson was chosen for the Badenoch and Strathspey residency which is based at Kingussie high school. He works with natural materials using basket making, weaving and spinning techniques. During February he spent some time in the area gathering local plant material including Scots pine, juniper, heather and bog myrtle and he is now working with pupils to show them how to use these materials to create work. A Showcase exhibition of his work, along with work by Shetland based Ewan Balfour, Jonas Haseselrot from Sweden and Anne Mette Hjornhalm from Denmark will take place at the Iona Gallery in Kingussie, along with the ‘Over the Hills & Far Away’ exhibition, from 4 to 26 June 2005.

Sutherland is too large an area for one residency so there are two artists working in collaboration and dividing their time between Rosehall primary school, Kinlochbervie high school and Farr high school. Neil Fuller works in a broad spectrum of stonework and Anthony O’Flaherty is predominantly a sculptor working with a variety of materials. His most recent work has been the production of bronze bells and other objects with a sound making potential. Both makers are exploring the life and landscape of Sutherland and ways to translate it into a lasting legacy for the people of the area. In June all three schools will come together to visit the Black Isle Foundry and see work being cast. A Showcase exhibition of their work, along with jewellery by Maike Barteldres and glass artist Sally Fawkes will be in Kinlochbervie during May and Farr in June.

© Tina Rose, 2005