The Cromarty Film Festival kicks off on 2nd December with Ian Rankin heading a fabulous line-up of festival guests.

The work of over 130 local artists are being showcased by the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness in its annual Christmas exhibition which runs until 24 December 2011.

an talla solais Ullapool Visual Arts is proud to present this years’ winter members’ exhibition Lustre. This exhibition is a little different to the recent members’ shows in that they are showing 3D work submitted from our many and varied members. Lustre will run till the 18th December 2011 10 – 4 pm every day. The Market Street collective has also opened its doors this month; a new collective group of artists and crafts people will be selling their work.

Highlands and Islands makers Jen Deschenes, Eileen Gatt and Andrea Williamson are all featured in a new book called ‘The New Artisans – Handmade Designs for Contemporary Living’ by Olivier Dupon.

Inverness Old Town Art presents three days of live car graffiting, artists’ talks and a series of workshops from Team Recoat – a new collective consisting of ten Scottish artists working in the field of street art, graffiti and graphics. They are delighted to welcome artists: Death Rattles, Syrkus, Lyken, Rue Five, Elph, FiST and Kirsty Whiten to Inverness as part of Freaky Fridays funded by Creative Scotland.

An exhibition of work by Thomas Woore is taking place at Da Gadderie in Shetland from 26th November 2011 – 2nd January 2012.

Glasstorm in Tain are holding their Christmas Show and demostrations this weekend (Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th December 2011).

Scottish classical guitar virtuoso Simon Thacker makes his final visit to the University of Aberdeen as part of his two year Visiting Fellowship.

In this the Year of Scottish Islands Transatlantic Sessions are performing their first ever show in Shetland.

Joanne Kaar explains how she succeeded in unravelling the mystery of Angus McPhee’s grass garments.