The Seer arrives at Sculptural Destination

This week sees the installation of the sculpture ‘Seer’ by artist Annie Cattrell, at Friar’s Shott on the banks of the River Ness. It takes the form of two standing ‘stones’ created with bronze-infused resin which will glow in the sunlight.

 To create the piece, Annie Cattrell used the inspiration of the geological forms of the Great Glen Fault which separates the two distinct land regions of North West Highlands and the Grampian Mountains, with the River Ness flowing between.

 Annie took moulds of the different rock structures on each side of the river, which she then cast in the resin at her studio to create the piece. Whilst developing the concept, Annie became interested in the powerful nature of folk traditions and the cultural need for predictions, forecasting and belief systems to attempt to determine the future. ‘Seer’ takes its title from Coinneach Odhar, the Brahan Seer, who made a number of predictions about the River Ness.

 Once the sculpture has been installed, visitors will be able to stand between the ‘stones’ and, while they may not be able to foretell the future, they will have a stunning view of the city and of Inverness Castle.

  The poet Rab Wilson has written a poem in response to the sculpture which was exhibited alongside an early version of the work at the Royal Scottish Academy earlier this year. 

 ‘Seer’ is one of a series of 6  artworks commissioned for the River Ness Public Art Project,  funded by:

• Creative Scotland £305,600 (40%)
• City of Inverness Common Good Fund £280,750 (37%)
• The Highland Council £106,000 (14%)
• Highland and Islands Enterprise £66,000 (9%)

Chair of the Inverness City Arts Working Group, Cllr Isabelle MacKenzie said: “The Seer is a fascinating sculpture which is based on both local geology and local legend, which enhances its meaning and its draw. It is very fitting that it will sit in this particular location on the banks of the Ness so that you can look through the stones up to the castle. I am sure that this will be a valuable addition to the cultural attractions of the Highlands.”

Annie Cattrell was born in Glasgow, studied Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art, University of Ulster and at the Royal College of Art. She has exhibited widely including at Pier Art Centre; Anne Faggionato Gallery and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. Recent commissions include for the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Bio-chemistry Department at Oxford University and at Oxford Brookes University. Cattrell has completed residencies at Camden Arts Centre; The Royal Institution of Great Britain; The Royal Edinburgh Hospital; ACE Helen Chadwick Fellowship at Oxford University and at the British School at Rome. She lectures at the Royal College of Art and is Reader in Fine Art at De Montfort University in Leicester. She is a Board Member of Northlands Creative in Caithness.