Four artists – Gilly Langton, Tim Johnson, Neil Fuller and Anthony O’Flaherty - have been selected by school pupils in Skye & Lochalsh, Sutherland, and Badenoch and Strathspey for the second year of the ‘Craft Residencies in the Highlands’ project. 

The three year project, set up to raise awareness of crafts in Highland schools, aims to place a craft maker-in-residence for a term in a school in all eight areas of the Highlands culminating in a major touring craft exhibition in 2007.  The first exhibition, called ‘Over the Hills and Far Away..’, is already on tour.

Artists sent in proposals for the residencies from all over the country and three artists were interviewed in each area by panels of school pupils ranging in age from primary to senior secondary.

Jewellery designer Gilly Langton from Newcastle was selected for the Skye and Lochalsh residency based at Plockton High School. Gilly, who exhibits widely including Dazzle, is looking forward to exploring the Highlands for inspiration for her work and researching and developing new ways of working as well as passing on her skills to the pupils.

Environmental artist Tim Johnson from the Isle of Wight was selected for the Badenoch and Strathspey residency. He primarily works with natural materials using basket making, weaving and spinning techniques. His work takes him to many inspiring natural environments around the world and he is excited by the opportunity to spend time in the Highlands.

Sutherland is such a large area that it was felt there had to be a double residency involving two artists working in collaboration.  However, the artists interviewed all captured the imagination of the pupils, so they will have three artists working with them over the period of the residency. 

Neil Fuller and Anthony O’Flaherty were selected for the Sutherland residency and will divide their time between Rosehall Primary, Kinlochbervie High School and Farr High School. Tim Johnson, the third artist, also selected for the Strathspey and Badenoch Residency, will do occasional workshops in the area. They will work separately and collaboratively during the residency.

Neil is a craftsman working in a broad spectrum of stonework, predominately to commission. Anthony is predominately a sculptor who works with a variety of materials. His most recent work has been the production of bronze bells and other objects with a sound making potential. He is excited by the prospect of combining the process of casting with carving.

Both makers are based in Sutherland and are keen to explore the life and landscape and to translate that into a lasting legacy for the people of the area.

The new residencies will run in May/June 2005. The project is run by the Highland Council ECS Exhibitions Unit and is funded by the Scottish Arts Council and the Highland Council.