Exhibition at Strathisla Distillery

Our exhibition at Strathisla Distillery started today. It's a beautiful distillery - as you can see above. The rooms within the distillery are very traditional and again beautifully kept. We are dotted around the distillery so visitors get a chance to see the rooms - including their boardroom.

Peter Harvey - Speyside Images (above)

Joy Mann - Twisted Kilts (above)

Lesley Boyd - Printmaking (above)

Lindsay Watt - Architectural Ceramics (above)

Lindsay, above, has started a new project - a sculpture of the Strathisla Distillery. She will be working away at this sculpture over the next four days, so will keep you posted of its progress. She's able to create your property from a photograph - quite unique.

From all of us at Speyside Artisans xx

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Speyside Artisans will be exhibiting at Strathisla Distillery during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. The exhibition will be open from Friday 30 May - Monday 3 May, 10am - 4pm.

The artisans draw inspiration from their surroundings in Speyside, the heart of the whisky country. Our work includes a mix of traditional and contemporary skills embracing print making, spinning, kilt making, architectural ceramics, fused glass, jewellery, mixed media art, and photography. Free admission to the exhibition.

We are grateful to Chivas Bros for hosting our four day event in their visitor centre at the Strathisla Distillery. All exhibitors will be in attendance during the event, with a few artisans demonstrating their skills. All exhibited work will be available to purchase.

Why not combine a visit to the exhibition with a tour of the historic and ancient Strathisla Distillery, the spiritual home of Chivas Regal. The guided tour includes a visit to the traditional warehouse and a wee dram in the cosy Dram Room. You can get further information about Strathisla Distillery here.

A warm welcome awaits all whisky lovers, families and friends.

Spotlight on ......... Speyside Images

Speyside Images is run by Peter Harvey who settled in Speyside in the late 1990's after a career in the music industry in England.

Whilst working on musical projects, he began producing prints and cards using the many photographic images he was taking all over Speyside, Moray and beyond. Finding an encouraging response from locals and tourists, he has continued to expand his range which now includes panoramic cards and signed, limited edition panoramic prints and a range of more abstract images called Photo Mandalas.

He has exhibited in two galleries in Aberdeen, where he also works part time as a picture framer and pianist.

Peter can be contacted on plharvey@btinternet.com

Spotlight on ......... Lazy Daisy Glass

Lazy Daisy Glass is run by Kathryn Abrahams from her rural studio near Speyside. Inspirations for her designs are taken from the sea and surf that surrounds us all. Kathryn has been living in Scotland for 7 years and decided to make a career change when her daughter was born.

Kathryn invested in her first kiln, bought some books and started experimenting in various techniques of glass art. Business has grown over the months since attending her first trade fair in 2009 and this has enabled her to invest in a second, and larger kiln. The size of the new kiln has brought many more opportunities for creating sculptures and large scale wall art. Her range has also expanded to include wall art, clocks, coasters and jewellery. She now attends trade shows and local craft events selling her wares.

Contact Kathryn Abrahams on 01542 860343.

Spotlight on.......Attic Creations

Attic Creations is run by Joyce Edwards, who was born and brought up in the North East of Scotland. She has always loved creating and making pretty things since she was a wee girl. Her work room is in the attic of her rural Speyside home, hence the name Attic Creations was born. Taking inspiration from the beautiful countryside surrounding her, Joyce concentrates on making beautiful jewellery, mainly from fresh water pearls, semi-precious stones and sterling silver. Her other love is making handbags and accessories, from pretty upholstery fabric, genuine Harris Tweed and Scottish Tartan.

Joyce can often be spotted around Speyside attending fairs and exhibitions.

Spotlight on......... Twisted Kilts

Twisted Kilts is run by Joy Mann, who has combined her love of Scottish Heritage and passion for needlecraft in the art of kilt making.

Having graduated from the world famous Keith Kilt School in 2007, Joy is a strong advocate for the promotion of quality and workmanship to be found in traditional skills such as kilt making.

She confesses to being 'quite addicted' to kilts and all things tartan and admits that after spending hours hand sewing a kilt she can be quite reluctant to see the finished article taken away!

Joy also specialises in repairs and alterations to heirloom kilts (kilts past down through the generations) and non-traditional kilts, hence the name Twisted Kilts....... traditional kilts with a twist!

Contact Joy on 01542 886311 or email joy.mann@btinternet.com

Spotlight on ..... Ewe Can Too

Ewe Can Too is run by Sally Williams, who is a spinner, knitter and natural dyer living beside the River Spey. Wherever possible she uses local fleeces and materials for dyeing. She makes a variety of items from wool specialising in hats and scarves from her own designs.

Sally can often be seen at fairs and events with her spinning wheel and will offer the chance for people to have a go themselves. She believes in the therapeutic value of working with natural materials and she runs workshops to enable others to enjoy this experience too.

Sally can run tailor made workshops for those who may already be addicted to all things woolly!!

Sally's contact details - ewe_can_too@yahoo.co.uk