Pictish Textiles Across Ross and Cromarty

Knots, spirals, symbols and crosses are being drawn by school pupils across Ross and Cromarty this week.

Pictish Textile artist Ruth Black is encouraging children to look at the Pictish stones in their area and create their own designs back in the class room.  Ruth is visiting schools from Ardross in the East to Poolewe in the West, introducing felt making and Pictish designs to over 100 pupils.

The visits have been organised as part of Highland Archaeology Fortnight which this year includes events during the school term.

Ruth will also be running a “Felt Making and Ancient Stones” workshop at Dingwall Leisure Centre for age 12 and over on Wednesday 12th of October from 10am to 3pm.  Younger children are very welcome if they are accompanied by an adult.

Also not to be missed at Dingwall Leisure Centre, is the Embroidering the Past Exhibition of 26 pieces of work produced by Ruth Black.  They were inspired by the Pictish Stones of the area.

Ruth Black said: “I have aimed to show the wealth of design found in the stones carved by our Pictish ancestors.  They are not copies of the stones, though some follow the designs closely.”

The designs cover the whole of Ross and Cromarty from the Shandwick Angels to the Strathpeffer Eagle Stone and Applecross Spirals in the West.  Ruth used a variety of techniques including appliqué, embroidery, felting, painting and quilting.  The exhibition will be at the Leisure Centre until the 31st of October.

The workshops and exhibition have been supported by the Heritage section of The Highland Council’s Community Learning and Leisure Service.  For more information, and to book places on the workshop tel. 01349 868478.