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We’re delighted to be back with a new ‘Hidden Scotland Weekly’. We really hope that you enjoy reading.

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FINE LINES - Malcolm Appleby

Snippet from the magazine…

An alchemistic experiment with a blow torch and a square of 24-carat gold led Malcolm Appleby MBE to pioneer a novel technique in metalwork. Since then, the maverick silversmith has gone from commission to high profile commission, showcasing his unique talent in delicate fine art that pays homage to Scotland’s natural world.

Malcolm Appleby’s Perthshire home grew around his atelier, so this is the first room he finds himself in after he wakes at 6am. “I like to get some work done before my assistant arrives at 8am,” says the revered silversmith and engraver, now 76, who can usually be seen sporting a jumper knitted by his mother that is now a darned kaleidoscope of yarns. On his plot of land in Aultbeag, Grandtully, which had planning permission for “a boring bungalow”, he and his wife Philippa (Swann, a writer and photographer) have built a collage of an Arts & Crafts-style house, with “bits stuck on over the years”. It is surrounded by an acreage, where a woodland garden sprouts oak and hazel saplings and is latticed with great juicy apple trees. “I’m planting lots of trees…” says Malcolm, “which is one of my great pleasures, and it’s as important as the work”

To read the full interview you can purchase issue 06 here.

RSPB Fowlsheugh

Aberdeenshire

Owned and managed by the RSPB since 1976, Fowlsheugh is a spectacular site to view seabirds in the summer months. Situated on Scotland’s east coast, just south of Stonehaven and a 30-minute drive from Aberdeen, the location makes for a wonderful walk year-round, but for the added bonus of 130,000 breeding seabirds, May to August is the best time to visit. The seabird cliff colony consists of kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, puffins and fulmars and, thanks to the beautiful cliff-side location, out at sea you may also spot dolphins, minke whales and grey seals, making for a blissful wildlife experience.

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Historic Kilbride

Argyll and Bute

In the heart of verdant Lerags, just three miles south of Oban, stands the ancient Church of Saint Bride the Virgin in Lorn. Rooted deeply in Scottish history, the site dates back to the 6th century, and even before the Christian era, it housed a sacred well devoted to the Celtic goddess, Bride. Here, the venerable Clan MacDougall, one of the oldest Scottish clans, share their final resting place with 300 other souls from diverse backgrounds. The church’s aged walls recount tales from the cradle of Columban Christianity to the echoes of the Reformation and the inception of the British Empire. The Friends of Kilbride, a devoted non-profit, tirelessly work on preserving and promoting this majestic relic, all while welcoming global visitors and fostering community engagement.

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Caerlaverock Castle

Dumfries & Galloway

Casting an inimitable triangular silhouette against Scotland's horizon, Caerlaverock Castle is a visual sonnet in the anthology of Britain's strongholds. As you navigate its walls, you are met with a sense of enduring might, economy and geometric grace. Let the fortified towers, battle-hardened through the Wars of Independence, transport you back to the 14th century. Inside, the aesthetic relief of the ornate Renaissance carvings of Nithsdale Lodging narrate a tale of the Maxwell family's privileged existence, a stark juxtaposition to the castle's austere exterior. Caerlaverock's history reverberates with the drama of two pivotal sieges, each a testament to its strategic significance. The castle's immediate neighbour, the Caerlaverock Nature Reserve, adds a chapter of biodiversity to this historic saga, its rare habitats flourishing under the unspoken protection of the ancient site.

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Alloway Auld Kirk & The Tale of Tam o Shanter

The 16th-century Alloway Auld Kirk in Ayrshire is probably the most famous small church in Scotland. Already a haunting ruin by the time the poet Robert Burns was born in the village, this church that he would have known well as a child, became the scene of his most famous story - Tam o’ Shanter.

Tam was a local farmer who travelled to Ayr every market day to sell his wares. Much to his wife Kate’s despair, Tam doesn’t often head straight home once his business is done but spends much of his earnings in the pub instead. She warned him that one day it would be his undoing, either by drowning in the river or being attacked by something malicious hiding in Alloway Auld Kirk.

On one dark and stormy night, the farmer had ignored Kate’s advice once again, stumbling out of the pub and climbing onto his faithful horse Meg. He pressed on, riding through the rough weather from Ayr towards his home, keeping a keen eye out for anything untoward.

Tam reached Alloway without incident, but as he passed the Auld Kirk, he was surprised to see the usually quiet shell full of life. An unnatural light spilled into the graveyard and the sound of laughter and screeching filled the night. Emboldened by his evening of drinking, Tam coaxed Meg closer where he could get a better view and a horrendous scene met his eyes.

A coven of witches and warlocks were dancing in celebration to the sound of bagpipes, played by the Devil in the form of a great, black, shaggy dog. The walls were lined with open coffins, the corpses inside holding lights in their cold, dead hands. From that unholy glow, Tam spied gruesome implements, murderer’s bones and blood-encrusted weapons spread across the altar.

As the music played louder, the dancing grew faster and in the heat of the frenzy, the witches stripped down to just their undershirts. Most of them were ancient, withered hags, but there was one witch who caught Tam’s eye. Nannie was young and beautiful, wearing a short shirt known as a cutty sark and as she spun wildly, the intoxicated farmer lost his senses.

He yelled out “Well done cutty sark” and immediately, the lights went out and the music stopped. Tam quickly realised the danger, kicking Meg into a gallop just as the angry horde burst from the ruined church doors. It’s well known that witches can’t cross running water, so all he had to do was make it to the middle of the Brig o Doon and he’d be safe.

It’s not far from the church to the bridge and Nannie was fast, but fortunately for Tam his horse was faster. Just as the hunter closed in on its prey and a hand reached out to grab him, Meg made a terrified leap across the bridge keystone and all Nannie was left with was the mare’s tail in her hand.

Tam had survived his ordeal at Alloway Auld Kirk, but he still had to go home and explain himself to Kate.

Words by Graeme Johncock, Photographs by Simon Hird

Art and inspiration: unveiling the journey of Tatha Gallery with owner Lindsay Bennett

Named after the gaelic word for the river tay and the sanskrit term for a sense of being, tatha gallery offers visitors a unique and enchanting space to celebrate art in scotland. With its abundant natural light, breathtaking views, and distinct gallery layout, Tatha creates an atmosphere that is both serene and inviting and we chat to owner Lindsay about how she achieved this.

Could you introduce yourself to our readers and let them know a bit about who you are and what you do.

Hello I’m Lindsay Bennett, owner and director of Tatha Gallery. After spending 30+ years in financial services a career change was needed and the opportunity to pursue my love of art arose. Nine years on and I still love all aspects of running an art gallery.

Take us back to where it all began, and tell us about the journey that led to you opening Tatha.

The area surrounding around Newport on Tay holds a vast amount of artistic talent and with a constant flow of emerging talent from Duncan of Jordanstone, on the opposite side of the river, along with the other Scottish art colleges, it made sense to open the gallery here to celebrate the wealth of Scottish talent, allowing local people to the joy of viewing and buying great art on their doorstep and thanks to our online presence we now have a worldwide client base.

Housed in The Newport, which incorporates The Newport restaurant & rooms and Newport Chiropractor clinic, we have a strong sense of health and wellbeing. The gallery is a unique space with wonderful light and amazing views that all work together to create a calm and inviting environment. Many visitors remark that it is the most beautiful gallery in Scotland.

We know you exhibit a lot of work from up and coming artists, particularly students and graduates of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, why is this important to you?

We feel that hosting graduate shows is an important and vital part of our exhibition programme. Allowing new emerging talent, possibly for the first time, the opportunity to showcase their work in our amazing gallery, while giving them an understanding of the business aspects of exhibiting work in a commercial gallery, sometimes this comes as a shock to some graduates. The world of art can be a tough environment for any artist so providing support and advice to graduates is also vital to ensure we continue seeing new talent staying within the art world.

Could you tell us about any stand-out or favourite exhibitions you’ve shown at Tatha.

Each exhibition holds a special place for me. It feels like Christmas opening up new work to hang in shows and working with graduates is always fun as they bring a burst of energy and excitement to the gallery. My standout exhibition is Passion, Vision & Spirt by Norman Gilbert, we first meet back in 2018 when he was 91 years young. His highly coloured extraordinary work depicts people, plants and patterns and those who view them fall in love. Norman’s story touches the hearts of many and the short film created by BBC Loop can testify to this with 7.5 million people enjoying a glimpse into Norman’s life and his wonderful art. People do truly connect to people. Having hosted 3 subsequent exhibitions of his work he continues to be a favourite in my heart. Sadly, Norman died in 2019 however his work lives on and we still have access to his few remains works.

Can you tell us a bit about where you’re based in Newport-On-Tay and are there any neighbouring businesses we should know about?

We have many amazing local businesses creating a buzz in the community and here are just a few to whet your appetite. If you are looking for incredible food with amazing views across the Tay, come to The Newport Restaurant, which is part of The Newport where you will find our wonderful art gallery. The Newport Bakery can supply all your baking needs from breads to great cakes. Fig & Fromage: great coffee, great bagels and very tasty cheeses with good music thrown in for good measure. The Urban Grocery is always full of delights with a fabulous selection of fruit and veg. Sutherlands Hair and Beauty will provide all your pampering needs. So looking for a great day out, great art, great food and great views you know where to head…. Newport on Tay!

To read the full interview click here and check out the Tatha gallery website and Instagram.

Interviewed by Eryn Inglis

Every nook and cranny in the shop has been carefully curated with products from our favourite Scottish makers and creators. Some of these talented artisans and their products have been part of our shop since its inception, while others have just joined us, their products newly unpacked and proudly displayed on our shelves.This week we’ve welcomed some beautiful woven willow items into the shop, all grown and handmade by Anna Liebmann. You can pick up some of her one-of-a-kind pieces from the shop from Tuesday-Saturday 10:30am-4:30pm and Sunday’s 11am-4pm and read a bit more about her creative process here

You can find our shop at the Milton of Crathes in Aberdeenshire.

Would your business like to feature in the Hidden Scotland Weekly? e-mail [email protected]