Search begins to find those hidden heroes of battle

Illustrator finds inspiration in history to create treasure hunt to teach youngsters about their past

A dramatic Perthshire battle which helped shape Scotland’s history is the inspiration behind a treasure hunt challenge for local children.

It was in 1689 that the battle of Killiecrankie was fought between the Jacobites and government troops over who should be king.

Last year Pitlochry-based illustrator Dylan Gibson visited the Soldiers of Killiecrankie Battle reenactment weekend and was thrilled by the spectacle.

Now he has created a set of cards featuring key people from the battle and the challenge for local primary school children is to find large versions of these portraits around Perthshire.

Winners will be drawn at random and receive a special collectors’ set of all the battle cards – plus a mystery prize.

“The reenactment helped me visualise this historic event. It’s a part of local history that I thought as an artist I could draw awareness to,” said Mr Gibson, 41.

“I wanted to bring the story to life in a new way and engage children and families in this colourful chapter in local history.

Local councillor Mike Williamson put Dylan in touch with the Soldiers of Killiecrankie group and they applied for funding.

Now, he has created a set of collectors cards featuring some key people from the battle. They are colourful stylised likenesses of King James II and VII, King William III, Bonnie Dundee, Hugh McKay, Donald McBean and Ewen Cameron.

Large versions of these “portraits” have been hidden in businesses around Highland Perthshire, creating a summer history challenge treasure hunt.

With the help of the staff in local libraries and schools, each primary school pupil in Highland Perthshire has received one of the battle cards and an entry form which will introduce them to the challenge.

The treasure hunters have to find the six character portraits in their local area.

The challenge can be completed for fun or as a competition and runs until the Soldiers of Killiecrankie reenactment on July 29 and 30.

Entry slips can be collected and posted at one of the history hubs at Hettie’s Tea Rooms and Cafe Calluna in Pitlochry, Birnam Arts in Birnam and Breadalbane Library and Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy.

I wanted to bring the story to life inanewway and engage children in this colourful chapter of history. DYLAN GIBSON

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Children from Grandtully Primary with the Killiecrankie battle cards by Dylan Gibson. Below, each of the cards he has created. Opposite: a re-enactment of the battle.