Big Nevis Draw - Runes and Ruins

The theme this year focuses on ancient history and the artists have been exploring Pictish times. A variety of art forms are being used from constructing shelter out of natural materials to creating clay spirit people on trees. The groups are also making large standing stones using Pictish patterns and symbols.

Every day this week schools have travelled into Glen Nevis to take part in this project. The full day of drawing based activities is intended to provide young people living in the Lochaber area the opportunity to explore Glen Nevis and the natural environment of this unique area. It is also intended to teach young people about the ancient heritage of this area.

The Glen Nevis Big Draw, ‘Runes and Ruins’ is funded by the Nevis Partnership and is being co-ordinated by Ali MacDonald, Highland Council’s Lochaber Schools Cultural Co-ordinator.  This is a partnership project between Education, Culture and Sport Service of the Highland Council and the Nevis Partnership.

This project aims to address some of the objectives of the Nevis Partnership, in particular; to enhance awareness, understanding and care for the Nevis area’s landscape, natural and cultural heritage and land uses, through sensitive interpretation; thereby, influencing visitors behaviour and activities, contributing to the area’s conservation and consolidating its unique sense of place.

The lead artist is John Sutherland who has been visiting all the participating schools to introduce the project through visual art in the lead up to the drawing days in Glen Nevis.

An exhibition of work produced on the day, along with photographs documenting the day will be on display in Fort William Library at the end of October.