Craftspeople across Orkney are opening the doors to their workshops, galleries, and studios at the moment, ready to welcome visitors from around the world.
The Creative Orkney Trail provides the perfect opportunity to watch our talented makers at work, handcrafting jewellery, pottery, textiles, and more.
We’ve been hearing from just some of the 25 Creative Orkney businesses on the Trail about their plans for the coming season.
Marion Miller Jewellery
Stronsay is the perfect home base for jewellery designer, Marion Miller. The island is full of beautiful bays and beaches, providing endless inspiration for her jewellery collections that feature characteristics and colours from the sea, shore, and sky.
“The Creative Orkney Trail is a great way for visitors and even locals to find you,” says Marion. “When you’re based in one of the north isles it’s even more important to be visible, and the Trail really makes that possible.
“Folk paying me a visit this year will get the chance to see me at work in my workshop. I’ve got a large selection of pieces on display and my studio is a bit of an Aladdin’s cave of artwork, sea shells and other treasures from Stronsay’s beaches. Anyone who wants to order a ring can pick out their own gemstones too.
“The Creative Orkney Trail booklet is a beautiful publication and I love being part of our creative community. It’s an honour to represent my island as part of it all.”
Visitor info
Marion’s workshop is usually open 12pm – 5pm, Mondays to Fridays, between April and December, but phone ahead to confirm to avoid disappointment. Find out more on her official website.
The Workshop & Loft Gallery
This treasure trove of knitwear, crafts, gifts, and artwork is found across the Churchill Barriers in the South Ronaldsay village of St Margaret’s Hope. A co-operative run by local folk, it was established more than 45 years ago and continues to thrive, welcoming shoppers from across Orkney and further afield.
“We’ve been part of the Creative Trail since the late 1990s,” says Sue Graves from the co-operative. “It was such an innovative idea and continues to be of great benefit to both visitors and makers like ourselves, who are based in rural areas of Orkney.”
“Anyone popping in will be able to see our knitwear, which combines traditional hand knitting skills and beautiful yarns, and an impressive range of local art and crafts from new and upcoming producers. Above the shop we have the Loft Gallery too, which always has a varied and eclectic calendar of events.
“We’re all looking forward to meeting visitors from around the world once again this year. They’re all very appreciative of the quality and variety of crafts made in Orkney, and the Creative Trail signage is an invaluable way of directing folk to our shop, and to other talented makers across the islands.”
Visitor info
The Workshop & Loft Gallery is open Tuesdays to Saturdays between February and December. Check the latest opening times and exhibitions on Facebook, and find out more on the official website.
Orkney Hand Crafted Furniture
A visit to Orkney Hand Crafted Furniture in Kirkwall gives you a glimpse into the past, when Orcadians sourced materials for their homes from the fields and shore. At Fraser Anderson’s workshop you might find a huge chunk of driftwood drying in the summer sun alongside his beautiful range of handmade traditional and contemporary furniture from the islands.
“We’ve always enjoyed being part of Orkney’s community of makers,” says Fraser. “I think it offers a sense of connection, but we also get to collectively showcase the incredible range of talent you can find across the islands. It’s really quite special.
“Being on the Creative Orkney Trail is great for me from a purely business point of view – folk can visit and see the work that goes into the furniture they’re buying, or they can touch and feel the pieces they’re interested in – but it’s also so much more than that. We just genuinely enjoy meeting people from around the world, finding out more about them, and sharing the story of Orcadian furniture.
“We’ve got plenty of pieces for folk to view and we can’t wait to throw the doors open this year once again.”
Visitor info
Orkney Hand Crafted Furniture is usually open Mondays to Saturdays between 9am and 5.30pm, with a wide range of pieces available to view. Check for updates on Facebook, and find out more on Fraser’s official website.
