Posts for September, 2025

Step back in time and uncover the mystery of the Picts with the Glenlivet & Inveravon Heritage and Dark Sky Ranger. This engaging talk and tour will introduce you to the Pictish people, their unique art, and the symbol stones that continue to inspire centuries after they were carved.

Set within the ancient and atmospheric site of Inveravon Church—an important place of worship and pilgrimage for generations—we’ll closely examine the intricate carvings on the four remarkable Pictish stones discovered here. You’ll learn how these enigmatic symbols fit into a wider cultural story and how the Picts helped lay the foundations of modern Scotland.

Tuesday September 16th, we are super excited to be hosting a local screening of the documentary following our beloved local event, “The Golden Spurtle”.

Constantine Costi’s warm and beautifully crafted documentary lovingly captures the eccentric local villagers who orchestrate the competition every year, as well as the plucky contestants and their determination to make the best bowl of porridge on earth using just three ingredients: oats, water and salt.

Channeling the symmetrical framing and picturesque compositions of Wes Anderson – the film brings the quaint village of Carrbridge to life in a truly cinematic way.

As usual, doors will be 6.30pm, with film on at 6.40pm.

Plus we will have a special post film Q&A with some of the local stars, so bring your autograph books and questions!

Fiver tickets for all. Run by the community, for the community.

Come and explore our Grantown-on-Spey Trail Map during North East Open Studios (13–21 September) and enjoy a unique opportunity to step inside the creative world of local artists. Visit them in their working spaces, chat about their practice, and gain insights into the inspirations and processes behind their work.

If you’re looking for a short, walkable trail, nine participating artists are based in and around Grantown-on-Spey. You can download our trail map to plan your visit, or head further afield to discover many more artists across the North East of Scotland via the North East Open Studios website.

Studios come in all shapes and sizes, from purpose-built creative spaces to private homes, garden sheds, galleries, and more. The art and craft you’ll encounter are as varied as the spaces themselves, reflecting a wide range of skills, inspirations, and experiences. Part of the joy of North East Open Studios is stumbling across artwork you’ll fall in love with in unexpected places and always receiving a warm welcome along the way.

Look out for the yellow NEOS signs guiding you to our artists’ doors. You’ll also be able to pick up a copy of the yellow guidebook from many local shops and galleries in Grantown-on-Spey.

Please check individual artists’ opening hours, as these may vary.

EXHIBITION | Yellow Broom | Design + Making

: Creators of bespoke, design-led utilitarian objects

Yellow Broom are a collaborative two-person design studio quietly rooted in the Cairngorms National Park. With foundations in visual art, design and contemporary craft practice, the duo create sculptural, thought-provoking, functional pieces that embody a deep respect for material and process. Narrative, people and place are integral to their work.

The studio collaborates closely with architects, interior designers, fellow makers and private clients to create site-specific and bespoke commissions. Blending traditional making techniques with modern low-waste construction methods results in functional objects that are rich in meaning and crafted to last. These thoughtful, contextual designs are intended to be lived with, used and passed on to future generations.
Each Yellow Broom object is crafted by hand with care and precision.

Centred in their practice is a commitment to sourcing environmentally responsible materials. Every piece is made to order, which promotes a slower, more conscious design culture.

The outcome is as simple as it is powerful: a true testament to their circular approach to making with the future of our planet at heart.

The Spey Bank Studio is taking part in North East Open Studios for a second year.

This long-running event involves 300 artists opening up their studios to the public for 10 days. That means you can delve into their practice, see their materials and where they spend their days producing amazing artwork.

The event runs from September 13-21, with each artist keeping different opening hours – check the wee yellow book (available from us!) or check the website entries.

This year, as well as Angus’s work, we will be hosting a young local glass artist, Brodie Birss, AKA Brodie B Designs.

Brodie is a graduate of Gray’s School of Art, where she studied 3D design and specialised in glass and metal. She went onto attend Bishopsland Educational Trust, which provides postgraduate education in silversmithing. Since returning to Scotland, Brodie has continued to develop her glass and silver practice.

Her work is inspired by nature, process and material. She believes that that working with our hands and immersing ourselves in nature is essential to mental and physical wellbeing.

We join Carmen in her boudoir, as she tells her own story in words and music. Dare you consult the cards with her? What does she think of the men in her story? Did she foresee her gruesome ending?

Paul Mealor brings his Caritas Choir back to St Margaret’s for this popular, annual concert.

Named after Mealor’s composition, ‘Ubi caritas’ written for the Wedding of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, ‘Caritas’ means ‘love’ and the choir, made up of singers associated with Mealor over many years, presents a concert of popular and new choral classics.

Twenty years on from winning the Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections, Breabach remain securely ranked amongst Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary folk acts and at the forefront of a burgeoning traditional music scene.

The band unite deep roots in Highland and Island Gaelic tradition with progressive musical influences and have cultivated a unique sound, anchoring double bagpipes, fiddle, step dance and vocals with energetic double bass and guitar accompaniment. This celebratory year will be marked by revisiting some of their favourite venues and festivals across the UK, Europe and beyond.

Carrie Fertig is delighted to be participating in North East Open Studios at St. Margaret’s Saturday 13th – Sunday 21st September, 2025. Carrie is an interdisciplinary artist working in performance, video, sculpture, and installation and also a metalsmith and maker in flameworked glass, the latter often getting incorporated into her performances and videos.

Rachel Sermanni is a Scottish based singer/songwriter that makes the mundane moments mystical: shock-positive pregnancy tests in train-station toilets, coffee machine breakages, cold river swims, the regret of not saying ‘I love You’, the moon & how it pulls, bare feet on wood floors, the soft glow of a house plant, ‘what even is consciousness?’, strange dreams lingering in quiet mornings…

Come and see Rachel at The OBI!