Since 2021 Argyll Hope Spot’s Snorkelling Artists Residency has been offering artists and communicators the opportunity to explore the marine habitats of Argyll in a unique residency. Having taken part in our programme our artists become champions of Argyll’s marine habitats, and they enable us to bring a range of audiences closer to the incredible world hidden beneath the water. We believe we are the only snorkelling based artists residency in the world.
Over 40 artists have taken part in our residencies since 2021, coming together to snorkel and make work in the waters of Argyll. Our residents have included artists practising illustration, painting, animation, music, writing, poetry, sculpture, tattoo, digital arts, jewellery, pressings, mosaic, the performing arts and more. Since 2023 our artists have been kindly hosted by Kilchoan Melfort Trust at their estate on the shores of Loch Melfort.
Our residents represent a diverse range of backgrounds, practices and locations. Some priority is given to artists based within the Argyll Hope Spot and to those who demonstrate a commitment to sharing their experiences with an audience; whether that be local, national or online. We welcome applications from emerging and established artists, and have seen the benefit of cross-learning between those with different experiences.
Our artists work on the shore and in the water – even sketching whilst snorkelling. Their work brings to life scenes that we don’t normally see, and are not often represented through art. Audiences have found their work captivating and it helps shine a light on the importance of the habitats within the Argyll Hope Spot.
The art resulting from our residencies allows educators, scientists, campaigners and the artists themselves to discuss marine habitats, their threats and possible solutions with a range of audiences. We continue to work with our alumni artists and support them to deliver workshops, community arts projects and talks in our communities. By enabling them to become champions of Argyll Hope Spot we amplify our voice through a whole roster of engaged, knowledgeable and effective communicators.
You can find out more about our annual residencies here; Argyll Hope Spot | Snorkelling Artists Residency
Tir Fo Thuinn – Argyll Hope Spot Residency 2026
Words by Anna MacDonald, Images by Beth Chalmers
English below
Am bliadhna, bha cothrom agam pairt a ghabhail ann an grèis-chòmhnaidh snorcaladh do luchd-ealainn, a chaidh a bhrosnachadh le agus a ghabh àite anns an Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot. ‘S e àite le arainneachd-mara làn beatha iomadachd a th’ann an ‘Hope Spot’, aithnichte mar sgìre a bu chòir a bhith air a ghlèidheadh is air a dìon leis na coimhearsnachdan mu thimcheall oirre.
Tha an Argyll Hope Spot a’ gabhail a-steach a’ mhòr chuid de na cladaichean ann an Earra-Ghàidheal, bho Àird nam Murchan gu Loch Suain. Chaidh an Hope Spot a’ leudachadh o chionn goirid gus Loch Lìobhann, Loch Iall agus an Linne Dhubh a gabhail a-steach. Bidh Mission Blue, funndas chruinneil airson glèidhteachas na mara a chaidh a steìdheachadh leis an Dr Sylvia Earle, a’ toirt taic do lìonra de ‘Hope Spots’ air feadh an t-saoghail.
Aig toiseach an t-Sultain, ràinig ochdnar luchd-ealain ùra am fàrdach againn airson na seachdain, The Kilchoan Melfort Trust Estate air leth-eilean Deignis, aig oir Loch Melfort. Chithear Luing is Siùna bho na bothain far an robh sinn a fantail – sealladh àlainn a lean gu seachdainn àlainn dha rìreabh.
Ged a bhios mi tric a’ snamh sa mhuir, thug an grèis-chòimhnaidh seo orm fhaicinn an uiread de rudan beò a tha air an tanalach fad na tìde, is mar a ghabhas am mothachadh ma dh’fhuiricheas tu gu ciuin, socair airson greiseag. Air a’ chiad latha bha sinn faisg air cidhe Cille Chomhain agus sinn ag ionnsachadh mar a nì sinn dealbhan fon a mhùir nuair a nochd sgaoth de rionnach òg. Shnìomh iad tron uisge, ag atharrachadh ann an sòlas na greine fhad’s a bha iad a’ gluasad, is sguir beagan againn na bha sinn ris gus coimhead orra.
B’e àite air leth eile a bh’ann am Bàgh Charsaig, làn fheur-mara agus coilltean ceilpe. Bha an t-uisge caran garbh an latha sin is b’fheudar dhuinn a bhith mothachail air an t-suidheachadh, ach bha an uiread ri fhaicinn anns gach àite cha mhòr ‘s gu robh cus ann. Chòrd e rium gu mòr a’ coimhead air na crùbagan a’ dèanamh an slighe tro oir nan coilltean ceilpe, na h-iasgan a’ priobadh a-steach is a-mach eadar duilleagan feamainn is air na cìochagan-mara deàrrsach a bha air an dachaigh a dhèanamh air pìosan den cheilp fhèin.
Gach latha bha sinn a’ fàs cleachdte ri snorcaladh is dealbhan a dhèanamh fo uachdar na mara ann an diofar bhàghan air feadh an Hope Spot, gach bàgh leis an arainneachd beairteach, iongantach aige fhèin. Chuir sinn seachad ùine a’ rùrach air a chladach is a sgrùdach na lorg sinn ann an Taigh a’ Bhealaich le Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation, ag ionnsachadh mu phròiseactan ath-nuadhachaidh feur-mara is eisirean dùthchasach bho Seawilding, ag aithnicheadh cultar is cànan nan Gàidheal a chaidh a chruthachadh mu thimcheall an fhearann agus a’ mhuir air feadh Earra-Ghàidheal (air eadar-theangachadh mar ‘coast of the Gaels’), agus a’ cruthachadh ealain air a bhrosnachadh leis na chunnaic sinn. Am meadhan na seachdain bha beagan fois againn is chaidh sinn air cuairt threòraichte tron fhearann far an robh sinn a’ fantail gus ionnsachadh mu ath-nuadhachadh is glèidhteachas choilltean Deignis.
Tha an grèis-chòmhnaidh seo air a’ bhith ruith bho 2021, a’ cruthachadh choimhearsnachd de luchd-ealain le sgillean snorcaladh is sgeidseadh fon uisge, agus a’ cur ri saoghal nas fharsainge de dhaoine air a bheil meas air uisgeachan Earra-Ghàidheal agus na creutairean a tha a’ fuireach annta, gu tric air falach, tir fo thuinn. Chan eil gar cruinneachadh nas fheàrr na eòlasan co-roinnte, gu h-àraidh suidheachaidhean far a bheil thu ag ionnsachadh is a’ cruthachadh rudan ùra còmhla. Tha mi den bheachd gun tàinig an grèis-chòimhnaidh seo ag àm foirfe don bhuidheann againn. Bha a h-uile duine làn toileachas nuair a thàinig an t-seachdain gu crìoch, is dh’fhalbh sinn uile làn dealas, beachdan, eòlas ùr agus sgilean ùra.
Tha a’ choimhearsnachd a tha Argyll Coast and Island Hope Spot a chruthachadh mar a h-ainm fhèin: pìos dòchais is mathanais a tha a’ soirbheachadh san t-saoghal. Coimhearsachd os cionn na mara a tha a’ cumail taic ris a’ choimhearsnachd fon mhùir. Mholainn gu mòr ag ionnsachadh is a’ gabhail pairt anns an Hope Spot tha seo le spèis is aire. Tha an obair a thathar a’ dèanamh an seo air leth cudromach agus cumhachdadh airson saoghal a tha a’ coibhneil, co-fhaireachdaineil a bhrosnachadh.
Tir Fo Thuinn – Argyll Hope Spot Residency 2026 – English
This year, I got the chance to take part in a snorkelling residency for artists, inspired by and taking place within the Argyll Hope Spot. A Hope Spot is a coastal environment full of diverse marine life, recognised as an area to be protected and celebrated by the communities that live around them. Argyll’s Hope Spot incorporates most of Argyll’s coastlines, from Ardnamurchan Point to Loch Sween, and has recently been expanded to include Loch Leven, Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil. The global marine conservation foundation Mission Blue, founded by Dr Sylvia Earle, supports a network of Hope Spots all over the world.
At the start of September, eight new artists arrived at our base for the week, the Kilchoan Melfort Trust Estate on the Degnish peninsula at edge of Loch Melfort. The view from the cabins facing out towards Ling and Shuna was a beautiful backdrop for what turned out to be an incredibly beautiful week.
Despite regularly swimming in the sea, this residency showed me just how much life is occupying the shallows all the time, and how easy it is to notice if you stay still long enough. On our first day, just off the Kilchoan Estate jetty as we learnt how to snorkel and draw at the same time, a shoal of juvenile mackerel appeared. They spiralled through the water, changing colour as they moved through intermittent sunlight and a few of us stopped drawing and just watched them until the cold settled in.
Another highlight was the seagrass and the kelp forests in Carsaig Bay. It was a bit choppier in the water that day so required a bit more concentrating for drawing, but there was so much to see in every direction it was almost overwhelming. I loved watching all the crabs navigate through the sparser edges, the fish darting in and out of drifting fronds and the bright anemones who’d made their homes on bits of kelp.
We spent each day getting to grips with underwater drawing and snorkelling in various bays around the Hope Spot, each with their own rich environments. We also spent time searching the shore in Tayvallich with Heart of Argyll Wildlife Organisation for observational sketching and identifying species, learning about seagrass and native oyster restoration projects from Seawilding, being mindful of the Gaelic culture that was shaped by the land and the sea throughout Argyll (translating as the coast of the Gaels), and creating art inspired by what we’d seen. In the middle of the week we had some downtime to explore the estate grounds where we were staying, and had a guided walk to learn about the restoration and conservation of Degnish’s hillside and forests.
This residency has been running since 2021, creating a community of underwater artists and adding to a wider world of people with a shared appreciation for Argyll’s waters and the wildlife who make their home in it, often out of sight beneath the waves. Nothing brings people together like shared experiences, particularly those where you are learning and marvelling and being creative, and I think the residency came at the perfect time for our group. Everyone lit up in the loveliest way as the week progressed and inspiration took hold, and we all left the week brimming over with enthusiasm, ideas and new knowledge and skills.
The community that’s being created by the Argyll Coast and Island Hope Spot feels exactly as it’s described, a thriving bit of hope and good in the world, a community above the surface supporting and celebrating the one underneath. I could not recommend respectfully engaging with and learning about the Hope Spot more, and the work being done here is so important to encouraging a world that looks after it’s inhabitants and natural environments.
