Nairn Book & Arts Festival

This is a great opportunity to hear the expert talking about these stunning gardens, which attract visitors from all over the world.  Derek Hosie came to Cawdor Castle in l981 and became Head Gardener in l984.  He previously worked in Glasgow Parks, a private residence in Milngavie, Fingask Castle and Solgirth Estate.  He has since gained wide experience in many aspects of horticulture and continues to learn and broaden his knowledge.  He is a member of the Meconopsis Society, RHS, AGS, PGG and SRGC.  He always enjoys a challenge!

Prof Blackmore, Regius Keeper of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will speak about his motivation for writing Gardening the Earth: Gateways to a Sustainable Future,  an optimistic perspective on tackling the great environmental challenges of our time.  Drawing inspiration from great Scots including Patrick Geddes and John Muir, the book looks at how humans have shaped the Earth over thousands of years, and why today’s challenges are different from anything in the past. No part of our planet is an absolute wilderness and we should therefore take care for the planet like gardeners,  replacing inadequate, short-term responses with meaningful, long-term solutions based on an understanding of the fundamental importance of plants in the ecology of our planet. 

Off the Peg is the community art event in Nairn High Street.  Unframed paintings pegged inside shop windows for all to see and buy.  10% of sales will be given to the Children’s Art Club. 

The exhibition is supported by Nairn Art Society whose Summer exhibition takes place at the Court House from 2nd August.

Event Information (DOC)

This programme is presented by Susie Alexander, a talented artist, writer and former Royal Ballerina.  She trained at Sadlers Wells School and later became a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, where her roles included Giselle, coached by Dame Ninette de Valois, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, coached by Dame Margot Fonteyn.  Her programme comprises Before the Beginning, a movement poem to Henryck Gorecki’s Symphony No.3; The Essence of Coppelia, a performance of the story of this evergreen ballet; and Night’s Magic Circle, a danced interpretation of Richard Strauss’s third Last Song.

Writer and journalist Andrew O’Hagan was born in Glasgow, and grew up in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.  His first novel, Our Fathers, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and his second novel won the James Tait Black Memorial prize for fiction.  His novel, Be Near Me, published in 2006 has been adapted very successfully for the stage in a co-production between the National Theatre of Scotland and the Donmar Warehouse in London, and spent part of 2009 touring the UK.  In 2008 his new selection of Burns’s poetry was published to critical acclaim, and his eagerly awaited new novel Maf the Dog will be published in May.

Chaired by Robert Livingston, Director of Hi-Arts

Hard work and great performances in the UK, USA and Germany have gained Malinky a reputation as one of Scotland’s most distinctive and accomplished folk bands.  While retaining their hallmark song-based repertoire, performed by three superb lead vocalists and arrayed with inventive instrumentation, Malinky today unite seasoned maturity with sparkling freshness in both vocal and instrumental sets.  Malinky’s line-up:  Steve Byrne (vocals/bouzouki/guitar), Mark Dunlop (vocals/whistles/bodhran), Fiona Hunter (vocals/cello), Dave Wood (guitar/bouzouki) and Mike Vass (fiddle).

The Nairn Camera Club will exhibit entries for their competition, which has three categories: Under 12 (or attending Primary) 12 – 18 and Over 18’s.  The competition which is free to enter and open to all allows a choice of subject and either colour or black and white for the photographs.

Download Competition Poster
Download Entry Form