Eilean Shona is a wilderness island situated just off the West Coast of Scotland to the north of the Ardnarmerchan peninsular and south of the Isle of Skye. With its ancient forests, craggie hillsides, hidden coves and sandy beaches it is considered by many to be one of the most glorious of all the Scottish islands. Owned by Vanessa Branson who has long been a champion of the arts, Eilean Shona’s cultural focus remains a central theme. The island has long been an inspiration for artists and writers and to build on this legacy we will be launching an annual residency programme for a writer and an artist.

Mission

Our mission is to cultivate an environment where artists have a gift of time and space for the development of their work. We provide a unique, stunning, and challenging environment to encourage artists to draw inspiration from place and take advantage of the solitude that surrounding environment provides. We offer artists a month of escape from their usual hectic worlds of information overload, a month of regeneration in the wilderness where the days have no end and nothing breaks into their trains of thought. Allowing them respite from their daily stresses and access a deeper understanding of their practice.

We have joined with the Royal Society of Sculptors to offer a members-only residency opportunity. This month long residency on Eilean Shona is for one member of the Royal Society of Sculptors. During the residency the artist will have access to an abundant source of wood from the islands fallen trees and will be encouraged to reflect upon and respond to the natural environment for the full one month period. The 2024 residency award winner was Robin Tarbet and took place in March 2024. You can read more about his experience here.