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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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The Highland Rogue

The exploits of Rob Roy MacGregor make him sound like a fictional character, but this was a living, breathing clan chief who became a legend in his own lifetime.

Born in 1671 near Loch Katrine, he was known as Red Rob for his brightly coloured hair and became famous as a Jacobite, cattle drover, and folk hero. Mystery surrounds Rob’s life but we do know that along with his legitimate dealings, he also ran a very effective protection racket for local landowners.

For a fee, Rob would keep a careful eye on their herds of Highland cows. If somebody didn’t want to pay, then it wouldn’t be long before those cattle began to go missing. The arrangement did ensure safety from the genuine danger of other raiders though. Rob was a giant of a man, with the reputation of a fierce fighter who hunted down anybody foolish enough to steal from his herds.

This reputation meant that Rob was trusted to buy cattle for a number of wealthy men, driving giant herds through the glens to sell at market before delivering the profit back to them. His main customer was the Duke of Montrose, but everything changed one day when somebody made off with a large sum of the Duke’s money. Rob insisted that he was innocent, one of his men had betrayed him but he was declared a criminal anyway.

He had no choice but to take to the hills and wild places around Loch Lomond and before long, stories began to spread about the legendary Rob Roy Macgregor, a cunning but noble outlaw. When one old widow was due to pay an extortionate rent that she couldn't afford, Rob kindly gifted her the money she required. Once a receipt for payment had been issued, the outlaw ambushed the rent collector on his way home and took the coin back.

Rob repeatedly evaded attempts to capture him but even when he was caught, it was never for long. He had a knack of breaking out of prisons either by daring escape or simply bribing the guards who were usually in awe of his legend.

Words by Graeme Johncock

We've caught up with Emma, the creative force behind Studio Yōki in Glasgow. With a background in visual art and a passion for clay, Emma crafts unique, handbuilt ceramics that bring joy and celebrate the beauty of imperfection. Inspired by the textures she once explored on canvas, Emma's work at Studio Yōki balances process and play, creating one-of-a-kind homewares that tell a unique tale of the maker's hands.

Please introduce yourself and let our readers know a little bit about who you are and what you do.

Hi, I’m Emma and I’m the founder and owner of Studio Yōki, a ceramic studio based in Glasgow offering small batch handmade ceramics. Typically I’m drawn towards creating planters and vases- anything that brings a little botanical joy into a home. With a background in visual art (predominantly installation and origami based work) I started working with clay around four years ago. I found myself completely in love with the material and all the different ways in which you could work with it. Unlike the smooth finish of most wheel thrown pottery, using traditional handbuilding techniques helps produce a more characterful

piece of pottery, as each pinch of clay tells a tale of the maker's hands. This is the primary reason I handbuild all my products rather than use a potters wheel. I worked and experimented with clay a lot during lockdown and decided to launch Studio Yōki at the beginning of 2022. All of my products are designed and made by me in my Glasgow Studio. The nature of my style of working and the techniques I use mean each product created is one of a kind

Can you tell us more about your studio in Glasgow? Do you have other creative neighbours around and do you collaborate with them?

My studio is based in the East End of Glasgow. It’s a large space with south facing windows, giving plenty of light. I share the space with seven other creatives, so it’s messy and packed full to the brim with everyone’s stuff (we’re all hoarders) but I like sharing a studio. When I first left Art School I had a tiny studio all to myself and found that I procrastinated a considerable amount more on my own than I do now with studio neighbours. There’s a creative buzz with sharing a space, it keeps you motivated to get into the studio and work. I always enjoy having a snoop round everyone's desks to see what they are up to, and our impromptu show and tells when we’re excited about what we’re working on, or when we need some advice. While I would love more space (I think I would say that regardless of how big my studio was), my current studio is full of camaraderie, and I look forward to making work in it every week.

There have been talks of a few collaborations, and even a few doodles drawn- most notably with my sister who runs a jewellery business, RR Designs, and my partner, who runs David McDiarmid Studio. Maybe the accountability of this interview will kick us into gear..

How does the city of Glasgow inspire your work and influence your creative process?

I’m a born and bred Weegie, and have fond memories of going to Tramway every week for my recorder lessons, as well as other galleries and exhibitions, and looking round what was on display. There is so much creativity in Glasgow, it’s a great city to live and work in. Artist initiatives, community projects, makers markets, exhibitions- in all aspects of creativity there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck into, and it certainly gets me itching to make and play in my studio.

As a local, where are your favourite places in Glasgow to visit?

Well I’m not a coffee drinker (I’m a tea lover) but I can’t resist a good bakery- in another life I definitely would have been a baker. I live in the South Side of Glasgow and there is an abundance of great places to get your sweet fix such as Jeju Bakes, Two Eight Seven, Sunny Acre and Honey Trap to name just a few. On days off I enjoy a walk round the local parks, or a good rummage round the local independent shops (e.g. Gotshot, Aume, 28 Langside) and if I ever come across a plant shop you’d have to drag me away to stop me going in. Despite my self inflicted (temporary) plant ban, I can rarely resist leaving without a wee green friend!

Can you walk us through your creative process from start to finish? How do you transform raw clay into the unique pieces we see at Studio Yōki?

I tend to make a lot of one off pieces, I have no interest in being a production potter, or making work identical (maybe because I’m a twin), I like my work to be unique and have character, so even if I’m batch making the same piece, each piece will be one of a kind- the same but different. These one off pieces can then inform designing something new for my website or wholesale that needs to be replicated. When designing new work, I’ve never been much of a planner. Detailed sketches are not my kind of thing, a wee doodle will do just fine. I prefer to get stuck right in and start with clay.

To begin with, it doesn’t even matter what I’m making, as long as I’m making something, I’m learning as I go. I’ve gotten into a routine where if I’m making a batch of something, I’ll always keep the last ball of clay to play with, experimenting with a different form and profile, making a one off piece. That way when I’ve put time aside to design something new, I can start by looking at these works and decide what I might like to take forward. Making new work is a slow process, there are so many stages clay goes through before it becomes a ceramic object. What’s interesting is that I’ve found nine times out of ten I won’t like what I’ve made at some point during the making process.

So for me it’s important to be patient, and wait until I have a finished product in front of me to critique. If I’m happy with it, I’ll make a batch which will allow me to refine the piece and inevitably discover better ways of doing certain things. Most importantly, if I’m going to be making lots of something, I want to be enjoying what and how I’m making, and if not, I won’t make it.

We have a small selection of Studio Yoki’s products in our online shop.

Find out more about Studio Yoki

Website, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest

Last Chance to enter - Win a Magical Night at the Witchery by the Castle

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Achmelvich Bay

Along the tree-lined B869 on Scotland’s northwest coast, you’ll pass a sign bearing the words ‘Achmelvich 1½’ and pointing down a small lane. You could easily drive past it – but you’d be wise not to. If you follow the narrow, single-track lane as it worms west towards the sea, with the inlet of Loch Roe appearing on your left, you’ll eventually reach the smattering of buildings and camping pitches that comprises Achmelvich. And just beyond that, you’ll find a little slice of heaven.

Achmelvich Bay is the kind of beach that postcards were invented for: limpid waters, a crescent of white sand and grey-green headlands set at just the right angles to finish the scene to perfection. It sits just four short miles by road from the port and famous fish market of Lochinver – but frankly it’s a place apart. Achmelvich is a spot that draws everyone from kayakers and windsurfers to rock-poolers and anglers (mackerel, cod and haddock are all common catches), while the iconic bulk of nearby Suilven attracts serious hillwalkers.

The wildlife’s special, too. The bay offers a good likelihood of spotting both red- and black-throated divers, and porpoises, dolphins and even minke whales have been sighted offshore. The camping and caravan site behind the beach is deservedly popular, but this whole stretch of coast is a world-class attraction in its own right, and even if your visit to the bay is fleeting, you won’t need long to understand what the fuss is all about. Just don’t blame us if you decide to change your plans and stay put.

One quirk to mention: don’t miss the so-called Hermit’s Castle, an eccentric abandoned structure on one of the headlands. Built in the 1950s, it was reputedly only ever used for a single weekend.

Extract from an article in issue 02 of the Hidden Scotland Magazine

Callum’s Road, Raasay - Taken by Simon Hird

Did you know we published our first book this year?

Our first ever guidebook is still available from our online shop here, and also some shops including, Toppings and co, Waterstones, WHSmith, Lifestory, Tartan Blanket Co, The Blue Magpie, Typewronger Books, Meander, Royal Botanic Gardens, Beech & Birch and from our shop at Milton of Crathes in Banchory.