Creative Light Festival 2027
Loch Insh, Highlands · 28 to 31 October 2027Four days of creativity, community and connection beside Loch Insh, with outdoor trips, art, printing and writing sessions, inspiring talks and long evenings of good food and conversation, and you will leave with a book you have made yourself. £950 per ticket.
THE FESTIVAL
GATHER, CREATE AND MAKE YOUR OWN BOOK
Creative Light is a small festival for anyone who loves to make things, whether you are a photographer, a painter, a writer or simply curious, held over four autumn days beside Loch Insh in the Cairngorms National Park. Each day begins with a morning of hands-on creativity, an outdoor trip into the forest and hills or a masterclass in art, printing or writing, followed by lunch together and an afternoon of talks from inspiring artists and makers, and the evenings are for good food, readings and conversation that carries on long into the night.
Over the festival everyone makes their own book, gathering prints of the images from your trip, collage and art from the art sessions and words from the writing sessions, so that you go home not only with new friends and fresh ideas, but with something you have made with your own hands, a small record of a few days that will stay with you.
HOW IT WORKS
EXPLORE, CREATE, WRITE
Everyone takes part in one outdoor trip and a mix of art, print and writing sessions, in small groups so that you get time with each leader, and everything you make along the way finds its place in your own book.
EXPLORE
A guided morning out in the forests, lochs and hills of the Cairngorms, with time to look closely, take photographs and gather the colours and textures of autumn.
CREATE
Gentle, hands-on sessions in art, collage and printing, where you turn your photographs and finds into pages, whether you have painted for years or never picked up a brush.
WRITE
Writing sessions to help you find the words to sit alongside your images, from a few lines of poetry to a short reflection, so that by Sunday your book tells its own story.
PAST FESTIVALS
SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
THE FESTIVAL WEEKEND
FOUR DAYS BY LOCH INSH
THURSDAY EVENING TO SUNDAY AFTERNOON
We gather on Thursday 28th October for a welcome dinner in the Boathouse restaurant by the loch, and on Friday and Saturday the mornings are given to outdoor trips and masterclasses, with lunch together, afternoons of talks from inspiring artists, writers and makers, and evenings of good food, readings and poetry. On Sunday we bring everything together, finish our books and share what the weekend has given us, before closing at around 4pm so that you can travel home that evening.
TALKS
MASTERCLASSES
LOCH INSH
good food
YOUR HOSTS AND LEADERS
WHO YOU'LL CREATE WITH
As always, the leaders are chosen for their kindness, encouragement and generosity as much as their skill, and more speakers and leaders will be announced over the coming months.
MARGARET SORAYA
Festival founder and host
Writer, artist and photographer from the Isle of Harris, Margaret created Creative Light to bring people together to make, share and be inspired, and she will host the talks and gently hold the whole weekend together.
LESLEY LINTOTT
Photographer and artist
Drawn to light, line, colour and pattern, Lesley creates abstract images about how it feels to be in the landscape, and loves helping others explore long exposure, multiple exposure, ICM and smartphone photography.
ANNA DEACON
Photographer and author
A photographer and author whose work celebrates wild swimming and our connection with water and the outdoors, Anna brings warmth, curiosity and a love of the Scottish landscape to everything she does.
CLEA BEASLEY
Bookmaking
Clea has loved books and bookmaking since childhood and believes that learning to make a handmade book can open the door to a whole new world of creative expression, and she will guide everyone in bringing their festival book together.
ADRIAN BEASLEY
Photography and printing
An Adobe Certified Expert who has been teaching photography, editing, digital printing and bookmaking for nearly 25 years, Adrian loves dark black and white and infrared images and pushing the boundaries of what a print can be.
YOUR TICKET
£950 PER PERSON
Your ticket includes
Welcome dinner on Thursday evening · lunches and dinners at the Boathouse restaurant till sunday luch· one guided outdoor trip · art, print, writing and bookmaking sessions · all talks and readings · materials to make your own book
Not included
Accommodation, breakfast, alcohol, insurance and travel to Loch Insh
How booking works
Places are limited to 40. For now I'm inviting you to register your interest, with no payment needed. Once 35 people have confirmed they would like to come, the festival will go ahead and I'll be in touch to take full payment for your ticket. As this is an event rather than a retreat, tickets are non-refundable once paid, but they are transferable, so if you can no longer come you are welcome to pass your place on to someone else..
WHERE TO STAY
YOUR HOME FOR THE WEEKEND
Accommodation is booked directly by you, but I'm always happy to help. If you are coming on your own and would like to share a chalet, just let me know and I'll put you together with two others who I think you'll get on with, as so many lasting friendships have started this way.
LOCH INSH CHALETS
Cosy self-catering chalets with two or three bedrooms, a few minutes' walk from the loch and the Boathouse, ideal for sharing with friends old or new.
INSH HALL
Simple single rooms with breakfast at the Boathouse, drying rooms for wet gear and lounges to relax in, a five minute walk from everything.
NEARBY
Campervans, local campsites such as Dalraddy, five minutes away, and a good choice of hotels and self-catering in Aviemore, around fifteen minutes' drive.
To book on site please get in touch with Margaret in the first instance if you wish to arrange to share a chalet and then, contact Loch Insh directly on 01540 651272 or at lochinsh.com,
IN THEIR WORDS
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
"The Creative Light Festival was a rich and rewarding experience that I highly recommend. To share creative time with like minded and supportive people with inspiring leaders in a beautiful setting is something not many people get to experience."
ELIZABETH HOCKNEY
"The Creative Light Festival has been full to the brim with walks, talks, hands on learning and so many warm and inspiring people. I have come away with a deep sense of personal wellbeing, not just creatively but mentally and physically too."
JACQUI TURNER
"The first Creative Light Festival was a delight from start to finish. It was beautifully organised but felt completely relaxed. The tutors were hand picked and fitted in perfectly."
MARJ BAILLIE
"Thank you Margaret to you and your team, you created a truly special Creative Light Festival. Everything was wonderfully taken care of, making the whole experience inspiring and memorable, encouraging and reassuring."
ANNI TOWNEND
"Really well organised and put together by Margaret and her team. Made new friendships with fellow creatives and feel re-inspired and motivated. So lovely to be out in the amazing autumn scenery and be refreshed by nature."
RACHEL WARFIELD
"Total immersion into creativity, inspired by genuinely creative people."
AMBER BURTON
QUESTIONS
GOOD TO KNOW
WHO IS THE FESTIVAL FOR?
Anyone who loves to make things or would like to start, whether you are an experienced photographer, a painter, a writer or simply curious. The sessions are gentle and welcoming, and the leaders are there to encourage, so there is no need to feel you have to be good at anything before you come.
HOW DOES BOOKING WORK?
Register your interest now with no payment needed. Once 35 people have confirmed they would like to come, the festival goes ahead and I'll be in touch to take full payment of £950.
CAN I COME ON MY OWN?
Absolutely, and many people do. If you would like to share a chalet, I'll match you with others I think you'll get on with, and by the end of the first dinner most people feel they have known each other for years.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Warm, waterproof clothes and good shoes for the outdoor trip, a camera or simply your phone, and anything you love to create with. All materials for making your book are provided.
WHAT ABOUT FOOD AND DIETARY NEEDS?
Lunches and dinners are shared together at the Boathouse restaurant by the loch. Just let me know about any dietary needs when you book. Breakfast can be made in your chalet or bought at the Boathouse.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
Loch Insh is near Kincraig in the Cairngorms National Park, just off the A9. The nearest railway stations are Kingussie and Aviemore, a short taxi ride away. Please plan to arrive by 4pm on Thursday 28th October for the welcome dinner, and we close at around 4pm on Sunday 31st.
WHAT IF I CAN NO LONGER COME?
Tickets are non-refundable once paid, but they are transferable, so you are welcome to pass your place on to someone else. I'd recommend travel insurance once you have booked.