CREATIVITY, INSPIRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE ISLE OF HARRIS
Oct 5th-Oct 8th, 2025
With Margaret Soraya, John Maher, Mhairi Law, Alister Benn, Adrian Beasley, Hope Blamire, Clea Beasley, Carien Borst, Lesley Lintott, James Kelly & others TBC
A gathering of creatives and photographers on the Isle of Harris in October, 2025
Time out in the landscape mixed with flavours of Harris, space for creativity, and freedom of expression. Experience a taste of the real Harris . The creativity, the wildness, the friendly people, the history, and the artists who live there.
As always, the leaders will be chosen to fit with the festival’s values of kindness, encouragement, and support. More leaders and local facilitators will be announced as planning progresses.
Our days will be spent with a mixture of photography sessions, speakers, and classes: photography, painting, journalling, and smartphone photography with creative apps. You can be assured of a true island welcome, time and space to be creative and inspired during your time on the Isle of Harris.
THIS 3 DAY FESTIVAL INCLUDES:
- Reception dinner, 3 days Lunch & dinner at The Harris Hotel
- A traditional evening of Ceildih dancing on one evening
- Led photography walks on the famous beaches and landscapes of Harris.
- Immersive art sessions with Carien Borst, who will gently guide you to express yourself in paint
- A chance to try ICM ( intentional camera movement ) abstract or close-up photography
- Learn from speakers who will uplift you and motivate. A flavour of local Harris artists.
- Optional additional workshops and trips before the festival ( 3rd & 4th ) to allow you to make a week of the trip. Additional costs.
What your day may look like
*Please note this is just a sample and may change
7.30am Breakfast
8.30am Photography walk to beaches or Bays of Harris / OR a Creative session
1pm Lunch at the Hotel
2- 4 pm Speakers
7.00pm Dinner together at the Harris Hotel
8.00pm Ceildih or drinks
WATCH PREVIOUS YEARS HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID
COST TO ATTEND
£845 pp / £795pp Creative Haven member
The price includes:
- Lunch & dinner at the Harris Hotel – from dinner on 5th Oct
- All tuition and speaker sessions
- Location trips
- Ceildih dance
To secure your place a non-refundable deposit of £150 is payable.
The balance will be payable 8 months in advance and is non-refundable.
++Not included – Alcohol, Insurance, Travel to Harris, Accommodation++
YOUR LEADERS & SPEAKERS ( more TBC )
John Maher
John got a second-hand drum kit for his 16th birthday. Five weeks later he was invited to join Buzzcocks. The band went on to have several chart hits. and broke up in 1981.
In 2002, John relocated to the Isle of Harris, where he lives and works now. It took him seven years to discover a way of photographing the islands in a style that interested him. Hebridean landscapes, shot in refreshing and innovative ways from long exposure photographs shot during the dead of night, use of additional light and decaying man-made objects set against a backdrop of Hebridean landscapes.
Mhairi Law
Mhairi Law is photographer based on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. She owns and runs the Island Darkroom hosts contemporary photography exhibitions, workshops in analogue processes and Artist Residencies.
Using medium-format film, her work looks to the landscapes around her, with her interests often exploring how cultures historically and currently bond visually with their environments.
Hope Balmire
Hope Blamire specialises in painting the Scottish island landscape.
Hope is invariably drawn and inspired by the Scottish landscape and her art sprang from painting one of her photographs of Scotland many years ago. Hope has a shop in Tarbert, Harris – where she sells her work alongside her husbands pottery.
Alister Benn
Alister Benn is a professional landscape photographer living on the Isle of Lewis. He has a passion for individual creativity and expression.
Alister is an inspirational photographer and enthusiastic instructor to anyone who wants everyone to have the confidence to express their own unique voice. He is an advocate of engaging with the landscape , unrestrained by conventions, rules or the pressure of external validation.
Lesley Lintott
Instinctively attracted to creative techniques such as ICM, multiple exposure and smart phone art, Lesley uses her photography to explore and express her connection to the landscape.
Lesley is passionate about the mental health benefits of being in nature and uses smart phone photography as a mindfulness tool for freeing up creativity and reconnecting with the natural world
Carien Borst
Carien Borst is an artist specialising in intuitive mixed media oil paintings and landscapes of the soul. Inspiration for her paintings is found in being outdoors.
After a leadership career in mental health care and educated as an art therapist, she chose a new path in life. She followed her heart to make room for a life filled with creativity and art. She will provide a beautiful warm and easy space for those to try out art in a free, expressive way.
James Kelly
A landscape photographer with a real passion for Scotland, teaching and guiding others in the outdoors. James has a warm, friendly approach to sharing his knowledge with others.