CREATIVITY, INSPIRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE ISLE OF HARRIS
Oct 5th-Oct 8th, 2025
With Margaret Soraya, John Maher, Elisabeth Philipps,
Mhairi Law, Neale James, Alister Benn, Adele & Max Warner Tate, Adrian & Clea Beasley, Emma Simpson, Carien Borst, James Kelly
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.
Our days will be spent with a mixture of photography trips, speakers, and classes: photography, painting, and printmaking. 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
- Drinks at the Harris Distillery one evening pre dinner drinks
- Chance to take part in the group exhibition submit one image to hang
- 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
- Coffee & Cake afternoons with Margaret
- Learn from speakers who will uplift you and motivate.
- Optional additional workshops and trips before the festival ( 3rd & 4th ) to allow you to make a week of the trip. Additional costs.
Additional, bolt on workshops are now available for the days running up to the festival. If you are arriving early and are looking for a lovely day event to take part in, please book here
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
2pm – Optional drop in activities : Paint with Carien & Coffee/ cake & chat with Margaret – both taking place at the community centre
4- 6 pm Speakers – at the Community Centre
7.00pm Dinner together at the Harris Hotel
8.00pm Ceildih or drinks
NEW ++ GROUP EXHIBITION
We invite you to submit 1 of your own images for our group exhibition, which will hang at the main location for our talks and events. A fabulous opportunity to share your work and allow others to see what your work. The cost of printing and mounting onto foamboard of 1 image is included in your ticket. The print is yours to keep afterwards. If you wish to submit more, there is an additional fee of £20, but you are welcome to do so.
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
- A taste os the Harris Distillery – first drink included
- One print submission for the group exhibition – printed for you
- Location trips
- Ceildih dance
This is a ticketed event, and full payment is made upon ticket purchase and is non-refundable but transferrable. Please ensure you are aware of these terms & conditions before purchasing.
++Not included – Alcohol, Insurance, Travel to Harris, Accommodation++
YOUR LEADERS & SPEAKERS
John Maher
John got a second-hand drum kit for his 16th. 5 weeks later he joined the Buzzcocks who went on to have several chart hits. In 2002, John relocated to the Isle of Harris and shoots in innovative ways: long exposures during the dead of night, using additional light and decaying man-made objects set against a backdrop of Hebridean landscapes.
Mhairi Law
Mhairi Law is based on the Isle of Lewis. She owns and runs the Island Darkroom hosts exhibitions, workshops in analogue processes and Artist Residencies.
Using medium-format film, her work looks to the landscapes around her, exploring how cultures historically and currently bond visually with their environments.
Elisabeth Philipps
Elisabeth is a functional medicine doctor, specialising in plant medicines, and a fibre artist living on the Isle of Scalpay after several years of solo van life. Her love of adventure in remote places and living life on the edge of the world immersed in the wild elements inspires her textile weavings and approach to a holistic and soul-nourished way of life.
Adele Warner-Tate
Adele is a coastal photographer living on the Isle of Lewis. After discovering a passion for photography, it became more than just heading out with the camera to practice, it became a release from the everyday and a way of dealing with personal challenges.
Adele runs small group workshops and is committed to encouraging others.
Neale James
Neale launched The Photowalk in 2020 ; a photography/walking cast that also deals also with issues of how mental health is positively impacted by being immersed in the arts. Neale now runs a wedding photography business as well and was previously a radio 1 broadcaster at the BBC.
Hope Blamire
Hope Blamire specialises in painting the Scottish island landscape and is inspired by the Scottish landscape. Hope has a shop in Tarbert, Harris – where she sells her work alongside her husbands pottery.
Carien Borst
Carien Borst is an artist specialising in intuitive mixed media paintings and inspiration for her paintings is found in being outdoors. 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.
Clea Beasley
Clea, who has had a passion for books and bookmaking since her childhood, loves sharing her knowledge and skills with others. She believes that teaching people how to create handmade books can open the door to a new world of creative expression.
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 advocate of engaging with the landscape , unrestrained by conventions, rules or the pressure of external validation.
Max Warner-Tate
Max is a photographer living on the Isle of Lewis and has a passion for coastal & drone photography. After leaving behind a full time career, she realised that creativity is important to her and made time to prioritise this.
Max also enjoys supporting other women in seascape photography.
Adrian Beasley
Adrian is an Adobe Certified Expert providing training in photography, Lightroom, Photoshop, digital printing and book making. He has been teaching for nearly 25 years. Adrian loves to make dark B&W images, use infrared in colour and b&w and push the boundaries of printing.
Emma Simpson
Emma Simpson is a debut author, wild swimmer and tea sommelier. Her first book, Breaking Waves, is being published in March 2025 and explores the unique relationship of women with water around the world. Emma is currently writing her second book : the history and stories of tea and how we translate our own heritage, rituals and cultures in ways other than words.