Nairn Book & Arts Festival

The winners:
First prize: Michael Marett-Crosby for Snow

Second prize: Alicia Lawson for The Terribly Lonely Beach Hut

Runners-up:

Eric Jones for The Missing Man

Chris Matthews for Skeleton of a Dog Found in a Cesspit at Simpson Street, Nairn

Karen Messruther for Pretend You’re Earthbound

Nairn’s increasingly prestigious Book and Arts Festival got off to a flying start yesterday (Friday) with the prize giving and pre-view of the Nairn Open Art Competition.

The innovation this year a of a double gallery format was a great success and on a beautiful sunny evening a large crowd moved between the Seaman’s Hall and the historic Court House. The Festival organiser Angela McOwan was thrilled with the enthusiasm of the guests -“Having two venues has allowed us to show twice as many works as last year in great comfort. Pictures and sculptures by over 100 artists have been beautifully hung and our expert visitors have been very complimentary about the quality of the work and its layout”.

Nairn Provost, Cllr Laurie Fraser, welcoming guests to the prize giving commented that the Festival is now established as an important part of Nairn’s visitor programme and is a major component of Scotland’s cultural scene. In addition to the Council, support from other sponsors EventScotland, Albyn Housing Association, Dynam Graphics and Nairn Rotary has allowed the Open Art Competition to offer very generous prizes. First prize winner Andrew Thomson said
“this is the first major prize I have won and it will give my career in the arts a terrific boost”. His picture ‘Sparrow Tree’ was snapped up by an important collector immediately sales opened.

The exhibition will remains open until June 19th at the Court house and the Seaman’s Hall. At the same time the 4Square Exhibition, Ruth Nicol’s solo show, both at Nairn’s Community Centre, and other shows at the Railway Station and throughout the town give visitors to Nairn plenty to see.

Following a late cancellation, acclaimed writer Michel Faber has stepped in to give a reading.  Michel was born in Holland, grew up and was educated in Australia, and emigrated to the Scottish Highlands in l993.  He won three major short story competitions, and was signed up by Edinburgh’s Canongate Books. He’s well-known for his novels Under The Skin and the international bestseller The Crimson Petal and The White.  At this event he may read from his latest novel The Fire Gospel, or from unpublished work, or even from his early books.  Come along for a dramatic, and deeply engaging event at 4.30pm on Thursday 9th June at Nairn Community Centre.