It was wonderful to welcome artists Alex Sarkisian (Scotland), Breanne Johnson (Mexico), Claye Bowler (England), Ocean Lorraine (USA) and Ruby Allen (Scotland) to SSW in June and July, as our first cohort of artists selected for Group Residency 2026.
Over the course of their month-long residency, the group had inductions and support in ceramics, metalwork, blacksmithing and stonework. Alongside developing their practices in the workshops & studio, the group took part in a collective programme of walks, sauna, films night, shared meals, river swimming/lounging, BBQs, artist sharings and peer learning. As well as trips to Inverness Highland Games and SSW’s local pub the Kildrummy Inn.
It has been a pleasure to work with the Group Residency artists and see the incredible and explorative work that they developed on residency, along with the calming energy that they brought to SSW.
Please come back to SSW again soon!
Below are reflections from the artists and images taken during the first Group Residency of 2026, which took place 29 June – 24 July 2026.
Words from the artists, images by SSW, Claye Bowler and Ocean Lorraine.
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I have gotten so much out of being here on residency with some truely wonderful people.
I was able to see a side of Scotland that I would not have been able to without SSW.
I hadn’t done blacksmithing before, or Raku, so those were both very exciting and can see how they can be useful to my practice in future.
It was one of the most accessible things I’ve taken part in as an artist, and I felt genuinely cared for.
It was nice to explore things more deeply, or with a focused time.
