Standing Stone and Foliage

By Mytilda Rattray

Depicting the ancient beauty of the Highlands and Islands through a patchwork of foliage
Image provided by Mytilda Rattray

I tried to show the natural beauty of the Highlands that just gets ignored. The shrubbery that is just passed off as weeds should get represented. Revealing the hidden details of their patterns and colours. I used the standing stone to represent how old the Highlands are and the undiscovered meanings of the stones.

Many thanks to Mytilda Rattray for sharing with us the story behind her journey stone, created as part of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.

WHAT IS A JOURNEY STONE?

Prior to the beginning of the stitching of each tapestry panel, each stitcher of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands was tasked with telling their interpretation of the 'Spirit of the Highlands and Islands' within a blank outline of a stone. The possibilities were truly endless - is it represented in the land? The people? A historical site? A favourite memory?

In any case, each journey stone represents the connection between each individual stitcher, their story, and their own sense, or 'spirit', of place. Discover more of the stories behind the journey stones of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands here.