The Small Isles have long been a hub of creativity - inspiring artists, makers and creators, many of whom have established roots here and many more who visit us to seek inspiration or offer it to our visitors through retreats, workshops and more.
As you travel across the Small Isles, you will meet a variety of makers and artists from musicians and painters to artisan knitters and textile artists. Perhaps you will find inspiration from one of our impromptu ceilidhs and pick up an instrument, maybe our stories will inspire the writer or artist within you. The ever changing light and dramatic skies may encourage you to pick up your camera or paint brush and our course offerings, which include basket making, foraging, felting and drawing may well become a new passion in your life.
Each island has its own craft shop which sells a range of handmade gifts, artworks and more. If you want to support artists on the Small Isles when away from the islands, you can also peruse and purchase a range of products on Isle 20.
Canna
Drop into the Craft and Community shop situated a short walk from the Pier. Visitors can buy an assortment of gifts and handmade crafts as well as some grocery items. The shop is based on an honesty system and a percentage of the money raised goes back into supporting community projects.
Visit the multi-sensory art installation - The Solas Point - a contemplation sculpture overlooking the bay inspired by islander - Margaret Fay Shaw’s film and photography work.
Visit Canna House and learn about the huge collection of Gaelic and Celtic songs, stories, poetry and a unique collection of butterflies and moths amassed by Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell and his wife Margaret Fay Shaw.
Join a felting workshop with Raine Clarke where you will use the natural colours and textures of the island to create beautiful feltwork.
Eigg
Drop into the craft shop at Galmisdale (right next to the pier) which stocks a range of edible crafts, artwork and cards, woolly hats and jumpers, fine willow baskets crafted on the island, original artwork and much more. The shop is open from 11-4.30-5pm from May to Sept. March, April & Oct - open on days the Calmac ferry comes in and open by request through winter and for the christmas market.
There are regular organised and impromptu traditional music sessions held at Galmisdale Bay throughout the summer months.
Eigg Feis, a 3 day celebration of Gaelic culture, is held every year at the start of July. This family event offers children the chance to receive expert tuition in a variety of instruments (experience not always necessary). The festival ends with a family ceilidh where you can dance the night away.
Basket making tuition is provided in small tutored classes by All About Willow.
Creative residencies are available year round at Sweeney’s bothy - a bespoke, small scale, off grid bothy that looks out across the Bay of Laig to the island of Rum.
Artist residencies are also provided through indie music label and collective Lost Map Records - providing an opportunity for artists to record in solitude on the Isle of Eigg.
AnNead Hand Knitwear - creates beautiful and unique cobweb lace shawls, wraps, scarves and gloves from hand spun yarn.
Libbi Galli, a talented felt artist provides felting workshops- contact libbygalli@yahoo.co.uk for more details.
Isle of Rum
Visit the craft shop, located next to Ivy Cottage, for a range of hand made original crafts by talented artisans on the Isle of Rum. The shop stocks handmade soaps and oils, jewellery, woolly hats and scarves and more.
Rum Bunkhouse is hosting a range of creative retreats this year from drawing weekends to stargazing weekends. Click here for more information.
The Rum Photographer - sells prints and greeting cards depicting scenes from across the island of Rum.
Muck
Visit the tearoom with the adjoining craft shop to pick up some local crafts, books and cards.
The Green Shed, a rustic tin building near the island's pier, sells lovely handmade gifts as well as eggs and homegrown produce. It’s open 24/7 and works on an honesty box basis. The local primary school children are also included in the venture with a special corner in the shed where they sell items including hand-made cards to raise money for the school.
Visitors are warmly welcomed to the island and invited to take part in any event that happens to be going on at the time of their visit.
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