Mull artists create woolly sculptures
The designs of two Isle of Mull artists are involved in a colourful Scottish art trail ahead of this year’s Royal Highland Show.
Bobbi Venter and Emma McKie are representing Argyll on the Flock to the Show trail, featuring 38 life-sized sheep sculptures decorated by artists from around the UK.
The sheep are touring until Thursday June 22 when they will meet again at the showground at Ingliston near Edinburgh.
The campaign is celebrating the return of the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Championships at this year’s Royal Highland Show.
It has been designed to raise awareness of the many varied challenges and causes related to farming.
Bobbi’s design, Wild and Woolly West, is sponsored by Macklin Motors and tells a story of the challenges and obstacles met by farmers and crofters in rural communities.
Bobbi said: “I admire the resilience of the people I meet, trying to survive on the edges, struggling with fuel and transport costs, isolation, mental health, and changes to farming practices and climate.
“I wanted to show the diversity of work done to support our rural mainland and island communities, often for very little reward, from the farming itself to the many small industries and of course tourism, providing a valuable lifeline.”
Meanwhile, Emma’s Bell Ingram sponsored design celebrates real wool and its producers.
Emma said: “Historically sheep were always prized for their fleece. Since the stone age, wool has been one of the most effective forms of all weather protection known to mankind.”
Woolly West can be found at Castle Kennedy Gardens, Stranraer, and Rainbow can be seen at Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries until Sunday May 14, before the sheep come together at the Royal Highland Show.