Heather is blooming
We created the problem so now we have to solve it.
I have written about how heather inspires so much of my work before in this offering. Since writing that piece back in 2024 I have now retired as an exhibiting artist off island and now, more recently, as a community artist. I am 61 years old and have been doing both these roles for over 20 years and I feel two things -
The first is that it is time to create space for others to expand into these spaces I loved so much.
The second is that I want to spend the next few years with my creative roots that draw on the way I live my life.
Over time, exhibiting and leading large community projects has squeezed my creative roots and left me a little separated from some of the fundamental beliefs that shape my own personal creativity. I have a favourite saying ‘If not now when?’ I don’t want to wait until I am less able to get up into the hills to study the heather and become inspired by it all over again. But, fundamentally, why is this so important?
For me, there are few plants that I encounter that has the capacity of heather. Through the ages heather has been used in a huge range of contexts. But I have a couple of favourite references. Traditionally, heather was used to make besoms or brooms capable of brushing away the stresses and strains of the day. I always make a new miniature broom out of heather for my studio each year. I try to create a space where I can immerse myself in my creativity so I have to find a way to park daily stress at the door as I enter.
In the language of flowers heather gives us protection, especially white heather. When I worked as a florist I always popped a sprig of fresh or dried heather in the bridal bouquet and the groom’s buttonhole. I wanted their life together as a married couple to be protected from the wider world.
The widespread nature of heather in Scotland is largely due to deforestation so humans have played their part in promoting this humble wee plant. Heather moorlands, however, do support a wide range of wildlife. Insects feed off it as it flowers long beyond when wildflowers have finished their bloom. Heather is also grazed by deer, grouse and rabbits.
Heather is a problematic plant. Left alone it will invade and destroy other micro habitats. It’s dominance on the moorland being due to deforestation is a problem too. So heather, in essence, needs careful management. This takes me to the centre of my world. In my world heather represents the balance of the natural world in harmony with human intervention.
We have created a complex problem so now we have to solve it.
I want to go back to the roots of my heather moorland work to ground me in this complex creative space. At the time of writing I have no idea where this work will lead but, what I hope it achieves, is a strengthening of my personal resolve to tread lightly on the planet and to focus on a legacy where I have made a difference to the beautiful planet I call home. Be that the further development of my wild garden which now supports an enormous diversity of life or be it into new areas where I can support the planet.
By my side will be my art work and I would like to create a brand new heather moorland collection. I also want to work on creative resources focused around heather that other folk might like to work with. I want to extract the yellow dye, make paper and include with pressed heather petals and, of course, I want to make some brand new heather pockets. I want to make a donation from the proceeds of this work with the Scottish Wildlife Trust who do so much to support our moorland spaces.
In order to orientate myself I am building towards a series of affirmations that I hope will see me to the end of my days. Once I have them I will share in case you would like to travel some of this journey with me.
If I don’t intend to ground myself more in what is important in life now, just when am I going to do it? It is time. x
About the author
I am a mixed media artist living on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Here on Substack I write free content weekly focusing on seasonal creativity. I also run a paid subscription. The Stillness Studio focused on the relationship between creativity and the meditative mind. It will bring together my two teaching areas into one place and we shall wander along together working on creative tasks that speak well to the meditative mind. This, in turn, speaks well to our sense of physical and mental wellness.