Art workshop at The Galerie for The Creative Light Festival

October brought a milestone I had been working toward for a long time: opening The Galerie for its very first creative gathering. The space was still waiting for a new door and window, and there were plenty of small finishing touches yet to come, but the core of it was there: white walls, soft light, and the beginnings of a place where people could come together to create. It felt right to share it, even in its imperfect, in-progress state. This event was not just any gathering; it was an art workshop on the Isle of Harris.

As part of the Creative Light Festival on the Isle of Harris, I invited participants into The Galerie for an afternoon of art led by the wonderful Carien Borst. Carien brought a calm, encouraging presence that immediately set the tone. She laid out the materials: inks, brushes, acrylics, palettes, paper, and before long, the room was filled with colour and experimentation. This art workshop on the Isle of Harris was a true celebration of creativity and community.

There was something incredibly special about watching the space come to life for the first time. People gathered around the table to learn and lose themselves in the process. Every surface held signs of creativity: strokes of turquoise blending into magenta, textured marks, layered washes of blue reminiscent of Harris waters. It felt as if the island itself had quietly seeped into the artwork.

What struck me most was the atmosphere, warm, open, and full of conversation. The Galerie became exactly what I hoped it could be: a space where people feel safe to create, share ideas, and be inspired by each other. It was a reminder that a creative space doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs people in it.

Thank you to everyone who came along and, in your own way, helped christen The Galerie. Your presence turned a nearly-finished building into a living, breathing creative space.

This first gathering marked the start of something new, a future filled with workshops, collaborations, and quiet creative moments overlooking the landscape that inspires so much of my work. I can’t wait to open the doors fully in the spring, but for now, I’m grateful for this gentle and joyful beginning.

Please join me if you are on the island on Nov 28/29th for an open day and evening