Colour Inspiration in the Scottish Highlands

A discovery of colours from the heather-speckled woods of Nairnshire, the majestic coastline and the vibrant fishing villages in Ross & Cromarty and the northeast.

(Exploring colour below left to right: A colour star I hand-painted based on Johannes Itten’s colour theory from 1921; exploring colour through felt-making using wool and silk tips; the tints, tones and shades I documented from our adventure in the Scottish Highlands.)

In August I went with my husband on a summer adventure to the Scottish Highlands. After lockdown, it was a real joy to tickle the imagination and inspiration through exploring. I was very excited by the variety of colours seen on our journey and in this post I share with you my findings...

Scotland in all its colourful glory!!

The Woods

We stayed in a cosy Airbnb surrounded by pine trees 7 miles south of Nairn and discovered the local heathery woods, rich in colour and texture.

The mixture of the greenery together with the pink-purple heather is a glorious complementary combination, synonymous with the Scottish colour palette.

With the car windows down, we journeyed slowly along single-track roads to appreciate the landscape, the wildlife and the fresh air. The roads were incredibly quiet except for the odd covey of grouses!

Nearby, south-west of Forres in the Findhorn Valley, was Logie Steading which welcomes visitors to its farm shop, garden centre, cafe, second-hand bookshop and art gallery. The gardens belonging to Logie Estate were beautiful with many apple trees and colourful flowers. We bought local supplies almost daily from the farm shop including salmon, honey, berries and homemade biscuits which were all delicious and a treat to eat!

The Coastline

We walked along several beaches including Nairn Beach, Cullen Beach and in the Northern Highlands: Dornoch Beach. At each beach, the weather changed frequently which affected how the light reflected off the seascape. I was impressed at the diversity of soft colours that emerged in between the blue sky, sunlight, cloud and mizzle.

The earthy tones of the beach were captivating: the rose-gold sand and stones were a contrast against the green-gold and brown seaweeds. Together they are a nurturing and calming combination for the soul.

Fishing Villages

We discovered many picturesque fishing villages along the northeast coast as well as in Ross and Cromarty. I was inspired by the collection of colourful cottages in various villages. There is a sense of expression amongst villagers who choose to paint their homes. Exterior walls, doors (and, on occasion, lampposts!) are carefully painted in a variety of cheerful colours to brighten up even the most dreich days!