Patterns of Flora | Mapping Seven Raasay Habitats is an ATLAS Arts commission by Frances Priest in collaboration with botanist Stephen Bungard. Celebrating the diverse plant life of the Island of Raasay, Frances created a bespoke collection of ceramic artworks that are permanently sited within Raasay House, which the public is welcome to view and enjoy.
Priest was commissioned to draw inspiration from Raasay’s varied plant life that she explored with botanist Stephen Bungard, and create a series of decorative ceramic works that are permanently sited within Raasay House. She focused on seven different habitats; bog, coast, fresh water, limestone, moor, mountains and woodland and created designs to reflect each. The artist created a bespoke collection of ceramic artworks
To encourage exploration of these landscapes, the artist created a unique map of the habitats. This offers an imaginative survey of the botanical walks. You are welcome to visit Raasay House to view Priest’s artworks and explore Raasay with the Patterns of Flora map. There are regular Calmac sailings from Sconser in the Isle of Skye.
To accompany the project, two new ATLAS Editions were made; a signed series of handmade parian vases featuring the artist’s seven botanical designs and an editioned colouring book of the original drawings.
Patterns of Flora | Mapping Seven Raasay Habitats, received an Arts & Business Scotland Award special commendation for the category of Placemaking. This recognises a partnership that has strategically shaped the cultural activities in a particular geographical area or has contributed to an increase in cultural tourism. The partnership shows how cultural placemaking can animate spaces, and can bring diverse people together to celebrate, inspire and be inspired by and enjoy the very best of Scotland’s creative, cultural and historic wealth and how cultural tourism can raise the profile of Scotland at home and abroad.
The Arts & Business Scotland Awards celebrate and showcase the best examples of business partnerships, projects and sponsorships within cultural organisations in Scotland. Arts & Business Scotland has been working for over 25 years to foster dynamic relationships between business and culture to enable Scotland to benefit from a vibrant cultural community.
