I am a silversmith, living and working in the Ross of Mull, and am currently in my final year of part-time study (MA Material Culture and the Environment) at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Studying at Sabhal Mòr, and through the medium of Gaelic, has made me much more aware of my own cultural background and its value as a source of artistic inspiration.

An Tobar’s ‘Sgeulachdan bhon Taigh-tasgaidh’ project was, therefore, of special importance to me; it allowed me to study specific aspects of Mull’s cultural heritage, to use these as a basis for design, and to create finished pieces of work as a result. During the month’s residency, I spent time exploring the abandoned settlement at Braigh Criech, gathering stories and information from local people, and studying old tools, implements and artefacts in various collections throughout the island.

I was particularly interested in the way tools and implements were made; often the apparently simple was in fact sophisticated, and, while many items were graceful and beautiful to look at and to handle, they were also always practical and functional. I aimed to echo these features in the raised cups and tumblers which I designed and made as a result. I enjoy working in silver, but I became aware that its finish was perhaps too bright and polished for the effect I wanted, and so I have been experimenting with other metals – copper and gilding metal for example – and different ways of matt finishing, and/or oxidising silver.

So rich is the cultural history of the island of Mull, it was difficult to single out just one or two topics. Other areas of interest for me are domestic architecture (I spent some time at Cnoc na Feannaig, studying the ruined houses there); faith and religion; Gaelic language; and the influence of seasons and the weather on a pastoral way of life. I am currently collecting fragments of 19th Century pottery and intend to develop designs based on these for a series of enamelled pieces.