A trip to the Misty Isle: Neist Point, Loch Coruisk and ÒR.

When can I go back to Skye? Soon I hope! My time on Skye really connected me to nature, inspired by illustration practice and allowed me time to reflect on what I want my personal life and illustration practice to look like in the next few years. I am so grateful for this trip, it really did make my year!

We spent a total of three days on the Island. On our first day, we ventured across the Kyle Rhea on the Glenelg Ferry to reach Skye. It was a really lovely start to our time on the island, the short ferry crossing set the tone for the trip!

Our Second day was spent exploring the island, driving through Broadford and Portree up towards the Old Man Of Storr and then along to Neist Point. A coffee was had at Lean To Coffee as well as a delicious maple pecan pastry! This was also special day for me, because I popped into the beautiful ÒR in Portree.

ÒR can only be described as one of the most beautifully curated homeware and gift shops I have ever come across. The team behind ÒR truly celebrate all things independent, stocking the most thoughtfully created goods. I have admired ÒR from afar, for a few years now, following their instagram page and other markers that they work with. Over the last couple of months, I have really been thinking about what my illustration career goals and dreams are and how I can make them a reality. And genuinely, one of my biggest dreams was to be stocked by ÒR.

A few weeks prior to our trip to Skye, I had been preparing my own prints with the hope visit ÒR in Portree on our day trip around the island. I really wanted to work towards my goal of being recognised by ÒR, I was building up the courage to introduce myself and my work. Although I had never been into ÒR, I felt really connected to their ethos and admired their authenticity.

A week prior to our trip, I was sat drawing at my desk with a cup of tea, preparing for the collection of work I was hoping to drop off at ÒR. I was thinking about what prints the team would maybe be interested in, what would speak to them, what I feel proud of? What papers should I use? I even got in touch with an Edinburgh Fine Art printers called Inlet Leith, to discuss paper types and prices. And in this same moment, my laptop received a notification… I soon realised it was from the team behind ÒR…it felt truly surreal!

Now my dream was a reality, my trip to ÒR in Portree was now to celebrate being a stockist! An ÒR maker! It felt very, very special. I was now organising to get their very first order printed and ready to ship! it was all very exciting.