Rachael Farren

The Isle of Harris, or Eilean na Hearadh to locals, has been a place close to my heart for as long as I can remember. Summer holidays spent here acted as an escape from reality but with a strong sense of home away from home. The landscape of this island is one unlike any other. The sharp and jagged rock formations that have been there for millions of years offer a harsh contrast to the soft spongy moss and heather, with deep warm colours, which have contributed to its nickname as the isle of rust. The heather almost acts as a buffer to soften out what appears to be a harsh sharp landscape, bringing not only that warmth of colour, but also a sense of cosiness and protection to those who witness its great beauty. 

This project is a focus on encapsulating not only the beauty of this island, but embodying the way it makes people feel and the energy it provides. My prints are formed through drawings taken from lines and textures found in the island landscape, combined with my own personal emotive and expressive connections to the island. The colour palette is inspired by the spectrum of hues found in the landscape, chosen with intentions of them being tones which evoke strong emotions of comfort, warmth and a sense of home, each of which I feel every time I visit this remarkable place.