For the second summer running, Taynish NNR will host a free outdoor art trail along the all ability Mill path, all the way down to the shore.  A collaboration with the artists’ organisation Artmap Argyll and Scottish Natural Heritage sees the siting of some 19 artworks open from Tuesday 26 May.

Experience the extraordinary natural habitats, seashore and landscape at NNR Taynish and see how 14 artists have interpreted a diverse range of materials and thematic approaches to place artworks in a variety of settings.  Walk around Margaret Ker’s earthwork “Labyrinth” listening to a surround sound of bird song, or see her precious delicate wire “Nest” placed on the forest floor.  Melanie Chmielewska’s surprise stone seal visitor pops its head up in the fresh water pond. There are stunning glass artworks this year – Lucinda Hopkinson’s Fish and Dragonfly are an array of colour amidst water lilies; gaze upwards through Karen Liversedge’s clear etched glass rod inspired by a timeline sample of the earth or see Kirsty Brady’s subtle glass panel of “Meadow Flowers” and find if you can her cast fungi.  In the Mill itself, David Bracken’s larger than life wooden tools invisibly echo the former use of the building, quietly placed. A successful collaboration between Sara Qualter and Bill Baillie sees a memorable series of atmospheric photographs, full of stillness. Fraser MacIver’s expert expressive monochrome studies of the Piggery and the Gothic Dairy suggests that history doesn’t stand still, complementing Louise Oppenheimer’s “Grist for the Mill 1 and 2” weavings, cleverly installed into the Mill building and inspired by the grains that would have been ground there in the past.  Digital images of paintings are displayed from Jane Smith and Caroline Plummer.   Jane Walker’s small family of roe deer, watch us quietly as we drift under the spell of this extraordinary nature reserve.  “Flight” Mosaic and ceramic tree house by Lesley Burr’s are allegories for the place as a sanctuary and a place of freedom and beauty.

The exhibition ran from 26^thMay until 29th September 2016, was completely free and was open at all times.

Art at the Mill, list of works 2016