Exhibition: Highland Story Quilts

(Fri 3 Apr-Sun 10 May) Stories gathered in the Scottish Highlands made visible using scraps of discarded fabric by storyteller and artist Lizzie McDougall.   It has been a long and winding, sometimes windy, sometimes wondrous road that has led to this exhibition. The Quilts illustrate stories gathered in the Highlands from the people who live there; old stories that connect places with people, patching together a timeless but fragile sense of community.   The artist says: "I wanted to make this more visible in the hope of giving some strength and presence to this delicate strand of our heritage. One wild and windy night I saw in my minds eye old stories being blown and scattered, some caught in the trees like the strips of cloth left out for Bride on the eve of Imbolc or gifts to the fairies around Clooty Wells. So I began gathering scraps of discarded fabric too. This was how the idea to make the Quilts began. The practice of making them has been very varied, some I have created alone and sometimes I have invited others to join the process. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has in one way or another contributed to all the special pieces that make up the StoryQuilts from hosting sessions, gifting stories or fabric, embroidering, stitching, ironing or bringing tea and baking." ~~~~~ Lizzie McDougall grew up in Edinburgh and attended to Edinburgh College of Art. As a child she was lucky enough to hear Highland stories from Mrs Dunlop the Barrel Organ Lady and Compton MacKenzie, which inspired Lizzie to travel the Highlands listening out for stories. For many years her artistic practice included promoting all art forms and running festivals and community events in the Highlands. After the Seer Festival in 2001, she felt a need to go back to Art College and combined Art with a BA in the Cultural Studies of the Highlands and Islands at UHI. Since then she has focused more on Storytelling and Art inspired by stories and visits museums, libraries, schools and historic buildings sharing Highland stories. She has been making the Highland StoryQuilts for over a decade to make visible and give presence to the rich but delicate tradition of Highland storytelling.

until 10 May 2026

Scottish Storytelling Centre