Arts and Crafts on Skye
The Skye and Lochalsh Arts & Crafts Association produce an excellent Arts & Crafts Guide, available from the Hotel, with a useful map showing you where all the workshops, galleries and craft shops are situated. Although obviously not exhaustive it certainly gives you a great starting point!
There are photographic and painting galleries, ceramic and pottery workshops, local knitwear and textile shops and much more - often situated in beautiful and out of the way places not always on the tourist routes - always a bonus!
Just follow their map and have a day or so discovering our local talent and hopefully finding that unique memento of your stay in Skye and Lochalsh.
We’ve hand picked a few of our favourites and provided weblinks to their sites, where you can get a tempting taster of what’s on offer!
Skye Skyns
A family business established in 1983, Skyeskyns' tanning process has been created to reflect the remoteness of its Highland location and surrounding crofting community. Today, visitors are transported back in time to witness how real sheepskins are made using time honoured methods of leather making - one of the oldest crafts known to man.
Here you can enjoy a free guided tour of our workshop where you will see all the traditional implements used by the Tanner and understand the lengthy hand finishing processes, which help to create the world famous Highland hand-combed fleece, which is exclusive to Skyeskyns.
Duncan House
Garth Duncan started making jewellery in 1972. Although he is best known for his Ancient Celtic knotwork and Pictish style, he also designs and makes many modern pieces. All of the jewellery and knives are designed and hand crafted from start to finish by Garth at the Steading, at Kilmarie, on Skye.
It has taken Garth many years to learn and perfect the many methods and disciplines required to take traditional work and diverse projects to a fine jewellery level. Some of his customers have commissioned very elaborate items and he welcomes new and challenging commissions.
Edinbane Pottery
Stuart, along with his late father, founded Edinbane Pottery in 1971. Establishing the various facilities required, and working through a number of kilns allowed Stuart to experiment, expand and develop the unique Edinbane Pottery style. In the early 1980’s Stuart built both a woodfired and a salt glaze kiln, adding to his repertoire many of the ceramic finishes and glaze effects that are at the heart of much of the Pottery's work today. Their high quality handmade ceramics are both modern and functional. They draw heavily on the influences of living and working in a stunningly beautiful environment on the Isle of Skye.
Skye Batiks
Skye Batiks was started in 1987 in Armadale on Skye. Eventually, demand meant production had to be moved and in 1990 the workshop was moved from Armadale, down the road seven thousand miles, to Sri Lanka. We have been producing our goods this way now for twenty years and in this day and age of ethically sourced goods we can proudly say that we have been providing employment for some less fortunate folk in a small fishing village in Sri Lanka all this time. Many of the designs we use in our celtic pieces have been taken from The Books of Kells and Lindisfarne, various standing stones and other ancient artifacts.
Grumpy George
Run by George (grumpygeorge) and Serena (bonniequine) Smart, with help from Pepe and Nibbles (our parrots), we aim to offer a warm welcome, an element of fun and a very personal service to our customers. We have a wide range of gifts, some made locally, some made in scotland and some made in skyelark itself. Grumpygeorge offers his personal view of Skye in his photographs which he prints onto high quality archival canvas and frames in the shop in various sizes and shapes. He delights in spending time with other camera users and is more than willing to impart his knowledge to one and all. He will print your own photos onto canvas, you just have to ask.
Isle of Skye Soap Company
All our soap and bath bombs are handmade and carefully hand wrapped in Portree on the Isle of skye. Our packaging is kept simple and recycled to protect our environment. we have soap for every skin type, from our original skye range which is as clear as the water that surrounds the beautiful isle of skye. Soaps with totally natural colours, reflecting the cuillins during the different seasons of the year. The essential oils we use are all natural - no man made fragrances here! The premises double as both our shop and production area, which is situated upstairs and our friendly staff are always on hand to help you and give advice on different products.
The Uig Pottery
Distinctive pottery with decorations inspired by the local land and seascape. Our five main decorative styles are expressive landscape, brushwork floral, tartan, dolphins and hens. All pots are made of high-fired, reduced porcellaneous stoneware using lead-free glazes making them safe for food use.
They are also ovenproof, microwave and dishwasher safe. Commissions undertaken for single pieces and sets. Postal service available.
Dandelion Designs
We produce a wide range of distinctive hand decorated woodcrafts, wall plaques, clocks and boxes. Each item bears an original design or illustration using techniques ranging from pyrography (drawing with fire) to conventional watercolour painting.
The Skye environment in all its forms is a constant inspiration but also Celtic patterns and the curves and swirls of Art Nouveau all play their part in the final design.
Ragamuffin
Ragamuffin loves selling the very best of British and Irish knitwear alongside beautiful, creative clothes and accessories from all over the world. We sell designs from over a hundred collections including Flax, Grizas, Privatsachen, Out of Xile and Oska and from our in house label - Angels Don't Trudge; with an emphasis on quirky design and quality natural fibres. Located on the pier at Armadale - a stunning location for a bit of retail therapy!
Isle of Skye Leather Co.
Local company specialising in genuine leather goods, some handmade in their workshop on Skye and others brought in from around the world: Italy, Bolivia, Morocco, Spain, Peru and Argentina. They happily undertake commissions and repairs in both shops.
