The grim story the Highland Witch Trials to be told at Nairn Museum exhibition running from August 27 till Halloween

AS part of Scotland’s ‘Year of Stories’ 2022, Nairn Museum’s final exhibition of the year will be ‘Isobel Gowdie, The Witch of Auldearn’.

The exhibition will run from August 27 until October 31 and will tell the story of Isobel Gowdie and the Highland Witch Trials.

There will be a cycle of paintings by Glasgow based artist, Julia Jeffrey, and a display of witch related artefacts.

Curator Melissa Davies said: “Running alongside the exhibition there will be storytelling events taking place on Wednesday, August 31 and on Friday, September 2 with local artist, Helen Wright, author Frances Hendry, author Ash William Mills and Andrew Mackenzie, ‘The Highland Historian’. A special event will take place at Halloween.

“It should be a fascinating insight to the history of the witch trials in the Highlands. Julia Jeffrey is a Scottish artist and illustrator. She studied painting at the Glasgow School of Art. Her fairy and fantasy-themed work, of recent years, has attracted considerable attention, with features in numerous international fantasy magazines and journals. Her work also appears in many books and albums.

“Helen Wright is a retired teacher and artist living in Auldearn. She has also been a freelance illustrator, and illustrated a children’s book written by the late local historian, Alan Barron. She was involved in the Nairn Little Theatre and local drama groups, as an actor, director, scenery artist and playwright. Her recent mural telling the story of Isobel Gowdie can be viewed on the Green in Auldearn.

“The ‘Highland Historian’, Andrew Mackenzie is a heritage and management consultant providing guided tours of the Highlands. He is also a researcher, historian, genealogical advisor and an experienced mountaineer. In addition to this he is a keen guitar player and bagpiper.

“Author Ash William Mills is the author of ‘The Black Book of Isobel Gowdie’. He is a historian, and an expert in Gaelic culture and Scottish Folk magic. He is currently studying at the University of Edinburgh.”

The museum is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm and on Saturdays, 10am to 1pm. Entry is £4 for adults, £3 concessions, and children are free.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.