Author: Michael Barry from Jewellery of Scotland
The West of Scotland isn’t just home to some of the world’s most beautiful scenery; it’s also a rich hub of craft and design.
You tend to find that areas of great beauty – like Oban and the Isle of Mull – attract a wonderful range of artists, designers and makers: “characters” for want of a better word!
Some are looking for peace and others are looking for inspiration; some were born here and others came for a break and never left!
We’ve compiled a list of these amazing people on the West Coast, so read on to find out more.
Scottish Island Jewellery
Where – 23 Argyll Square, Oban
We love the Celtic Knot pattern on this Sterling Silver Celtic Ring with Amethyst, from Scottish Island Jewellery.
http://scottishislandjewellery.co.uk/shop/
Founded by Oban based jeweller Shirley, Scottish Island Jewellery has been creating stunning designs since 1995. A graduate of the College of Art and Design in Dundee, Shirley holds several degrees in jewellery making and silversmithing. In her shop you’ll find beautiful handcrafted silver pieces celebrating Scotland’s unique heritage and landscape as well as cufflinks and pin badges. You can also contact Shirley and have an existing piece redesigned. She can take a piece of gem jewellery and reset it to the customer’s tastes, making Scottish Island Jewellery a very unique destination for West Coast craft. Check out her amazing work here:
http://scottishislandjewellery.co.uk/
Island Bakery
Where – stockists throughout the UK. Factory – Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Joe Reade of the Island Bakery, pictured on the Isle of Mull with Tobermory in the background.
Ok so maybe this a slightly non traditional entry for a list on designers, but we at Jewellery of Scotland firmly believe that biscuits are an art! What began as a small deli operation in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull has swiftly blossomed into a full-on biscuit empire. Joe and Dawn Reade began making their famous sweets in 2001 and are currently stocked all over Europe. They pride themselves on using all organic ingredients and sustainable power sources to fuel their location. Oh and their biscuits are to die for.
Learn all about Island Bakery here:
http://www.islandbakery.co.uk/about-us/
West Highland Crafts
Where – Online store only. Ardnamurchan, West Highlands of Scotland.
Carol Kane beaded bracelet from West Highland Crafts
This lovely online shop focuses exclusively on handmade crafts and jewellery from designers based on the West Coast. From lovely beaded bracelets by designer Carol Kane to colourful hand-knit cushions by Anne Thompson, this retailer is a great place to find some hidden gems of the crafting world.
Learn more about West Highland Crafts or do some shopping here:
http://www.westhighlandcrafts.co.uk/
West Coast Tours have bus and boat tours to Iona, Mull and the Treshnish Isles running daily in the summer months and there’s always additional services to explore Mull or even a sightseeing tour around Glasgow or Oban. When you come to the West Coast, make sure to support local designers and makers – ask us the best way to find them!
Jewellery of Scotland source and share the finest handmade Scottish jewellery to all corners of the globe. When they’re not hunting down rare bracelets, necklaces and rings from the Orkney Islands, the Jewellery of Scotland team love to connect with the many incredibly creative people who call Scotland home. Check out the Jewellery of Scotland blog for interviews with Scottish designers, passion-pieces on Scottish culture, heritage and fashion, and much more.
