Scotland has a rich history of arts and crafts encompassing a wide range of activities from painting, pottery, and weaving, through to
Glass Works
Iceberg Glass is situated in the lovely Highland village of Fort Augustus at the southwestern end of Loch Ness. From their studio, they specialise in producing wonderful blown and lamp-worked glass products.
They also work with borosilicate glass from which they craft a range of contemporary products including jewellery and ornaments as well as Christmas decorations.
Originally established in Glasgow back in 1987, Half-A-Moon moved to the Highlands in 1992, and settled in Ardersier (just outside Inverness) in 2000.
They specialise in the design and manufacture of stained glass. They work in both traditional leadwork and copper foiling. Using their skills allows them to produce a broad range of items from small light-catchers to large panels. The product range includes clocks, lamps, mirrors and candleholders as well as pieces for your windows. If you want that very special piece they can even make you a full stained glass window.
With a small studio and gallery in Tain, North Coast Glass is producing beautiful contemporary pieces that would grace any home.
The driving force behind North Coast Glass is Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns. Both studied at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and went on to gain experience with some of the leading contemporary glass artists in Europe and America.
Supported by a talented team their studio has gained a reputation for exquisite pieces ranging from the minimalist to the exuberant.
North Lands Creative – Lybster
This unique studio organisation and gallery focuses is on the development of contemporary glass art in the UK. They support professional artists and provide a programme of talks, events and education activities around the studio and gallery that engages visitors with artists and art-making.
The gallery is open from Monday to Friday (closed weekend), and visits to the studio can be made by prior arrangement.
Pottery & Ceramics
Tain Pottery has a deserved reputation for producing a range of high-quality hand painted ceramics that are the essence of the Scottish Highlands.
As well as hand-built and thrown items they also produce items that have been jiggered and jollied, extruded or pressed. Predominantly working in stoneware, the items are fired to vitrification at 1280 degrees centigrade. This eliminates porosity so items can be used in microwaves, ovens, freezers and dishwashers.
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Beautiful hand made and hand decorated items produced at this small studio and workshop in the coastal town of Cromarty.
The pottery produces a wide range of items including mugs, jugs, bowls, plates, platters and teapots.
Highland Stoneware – Ullapool & Lochinver
Located in the North-West Highlands of Scotland, Highland Stoneware is hands-on from making their our own clay right through to the finished product.
They have workshops in Lochinver and Ullapool where you can browse their innovative designs.
Loch Ness Clay Works Pottery & Cafe – Drumnadrochit
Rebekah Allan produces a wide range of artisan stoneware in her studio that sits high above Loch Ness in a former steading that is the home of the Clay Works Pottery and Cafe.
Her work incorporates the natural glowing colours and tones of the surrounding landscape which includes over 200 acres of ancient Oak and Birch woodland.
In addition to the studio and gallery, there is a lovely cafe that serves a range of tasty treats.
Textiles and Yarns
Magpies Wool & Crafts – Inverness
Serious knitters will love this place! It is jam-packed with all manner of knitting supplies and equipment. Located just outside the city centre, this shop has just about everything you need.
Nairn Woolshop is owned and run by Marie and Adam, a Mother and Son team that
With an extensive range of pure wools, yarns, fabric, beads, tools and accessories, they can provide just about everything the committed knitter, crochet fanatic and fabric worker could desire.
This small family team are producing a range of exciting Scottish designs from their workshop in Kirkhill just a few miles from Inverness.
Their core range includes wraps, capes, cushions, wall-hangings, bags and purses, Christmas decorations and more.
With prices starting from as little as £4 for a keyring there is something for every budget, but be warned they have some wonderful large one-off wall-hangings that may stretch your budget a little further.
Crafty Shops
The Bealach Cafe & Gallery – Tornapress
We have to come clean and say that we absolutely love this place. It not only has a wonderful cafe and a fantastic gallery, but it sits in what must be one of The Highlands most stunning locations at the foot of the Bealach Na Ba, one of the UK’s steepest and most scenic roads.
The gallery has a superb collection of art, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and weaving from artists and craftworkers across Scotland. The cafe is brimfull of lovely scrummy stuff to eat – heaven!
We defy anyone not to be charmed by this Highland jewel!
The Castle Gallery – Inverness
This lovely small gallery is situated just a short walk from Inverglen Guest House and has two floors dedicated to works produced by Scottish artists as well as those throughout the rest of the UK.
Contemporary artwork is imaginatively displayed in this 18th-century building making it a delight to visit. Regularly changing exhibitions complement the regular stock of ceramics, jewellery, glass, paintings, prints and sculptures.
Judith Glue has been selling her Orkney Knitwear collection from her shop in Bridge Street Inverness since 2008. This popular range is made by her dedicated and skilled workforce on the Islands. The shop also carries a superb range of hand made items from all over the Highlands and Islands including clothing, bags & accessories, gifts and jewellery.
This shop always has an interesting range of products and is well worth a visit during your stay in Inverness.
Exclusively Highlands – Various Venues
Exclusively Highlands organise and host a series of Artisan Art, Craft and Food Events in beautiful and historic surroundings right across Scotland.
At each venue, you can meet, buy, sample or commission from many of Scotland’s leading artisans and skilled craft makers of Art, Craft and Food. With over 170 exhibitors, you will find something different at every event.
Each setting is unique and with direct access to the makers, designers, artists and crafters. There are 3 regular events held in Inverness at The Bishops Palace at Eden Court. You can check out the latest dates on our Events Calendar.
Miscellaneous Arty & Crafty Stuff
The Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail
Located in Feshiebridge (13 km from both Aviemore and Kingussie in The Cairngorm National Park) the Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail is a series of sculptures in wood and stone by Frank Bruce on Scottish culture and our relationship with others. The sculptures are allowed to decay as Frank Bruce intended them to return to the earth from where they came.
The trail winds through the beautiful and peaceful forest and then down and along the wide grassy bank of the River Feshie.