Nothing to obscure the view

56°30′N 6°53′W

Isle of Tiree

The most westerly of the Inner Hebridean islands, Scotland.

Tiree has space. In the summer months, swathes of buttercups nod in cheerful profusion casting a quilt of bright yellow across the island’s, windswept landscapes of muted greens and browns. With no trees and only three prominent hills nestled in the otherwise flat, machair* landscape, there is nothing to obscure the view.In a vision of uncomplicated happiness, low lying cottages punctuate the landscape, sheltered on all sides by sturdy walls whose thick stones seem to have appeared in a happy accident. Weathered by the salt and wind, these tiny, whitewashed structures stand defiantly through the turbulent winters - and then peaceful in the playful breeze of the summer. But Tiree is moody. The endless skies and wide, often deserted beaches along with the sense of quietude belie the fact that this island is temperamental, its serene appearance concealing a landscape that is as changeable as the sea that surrounds it. 

We found Tiree to be a place of extraordinary natural contrasts. The weather would change swiftly, and with it, the light and the mood of the island shifted. A gust of wind and dark clouds would gather, bringing a sudden drenching rain that blurred the landscape and muffled the island in a soft steady drumming. For a time, the fog would roll, softening the edges of the landscapes and wrapping the island in a shroud of mist. Then as quickly as it came, the storm would pass. The air cleared, but remained crisp and melancholy for a while. The skies were vast on Tiree, disrupted only by clouds that drift indifferently. The solitude there did not ring of loneliness. Amidst the wilderness, we found the mind had space to wander and, with time, the noise of modern life fell away for a while.

As well as the landscapes and colour palette, the Isle of Tiree appealed to RUSKIN for it's gentle way of life, unfolding as it typically does with the rhythm of the tides and the passage of clouds. This pace of life complements RUSKIN’s slower, quieter design ethos and natural aesthetic to resonate on a deeper, more enduring level.As a brand, RUSKIN hails from northern England we hold great affection for the wild, evocative landscapes of Scotland.

In search of a backdrop to create a series of visually rich and emotionally resonant campaign images for spring/summer 2024 we were delighted to have discovered and explored the Island of Tiree. 

FEATURED: The Bennet in Duck Egg

*Machair is a Gaelic word meaning fertile, low-lying grassy plain, ‘machair’ and it refers to a unique habitat that is one of the rarest in Europe; only occurring on the exposed west-facing shores of Scotland and Ireland. 

Photography @ceciliaavolpi_ph