Home from Home: A Contour Map of Lewis & Harris
R&L approached me to commission a bespoke contour map wall piece after seeing my work in a gallery window. We arranged a visit to my workshop in Sheffield city centre to discuss the details and narrowed down the brief: a large brass sculpture of Lewis & Harris using elevation data, engraved water, gold leaf ocean & a silver granule denoting ‘the bothy’ - their beloved getaway on this far flung Scottish isle.
"Uigean is our home from home. It is where our hearts lie."
When people commission a bespoke contour map, they are rarely choosing a landscape simply because it looks beautiful. More often, they are choosing a place that has become woven into their story; somewhere that holds memories, relationships, milestones and meaning.
For R&L, that place is the Isle of Lewis and Harris.
Their connection to Scotland began long before they ever set foot in the Outer Hebrides. ‘R’ spent many childhood summers exploring the mountains and glens of the Highlands, developing a deep appreciation for wild landscapes, dramatic weather and the constantly changing moods of the natural world.
"A deep love of Scotland has always been with me," he explains. "Many happy summer days were spent with my family in the Highlands. Through that long association, an appreciation for the weather, the land and seascapes, and their ever-changing light and moods was born."
Later in life, that appreciation grew into something deeper, something he wanted to share with ‘L’, his partner. Together, they found themselves drawn westwards, beyond the mainland and into the remoteness of the Outer Hebrides.
"We were drawn to the islands by their rugged beauty and by a desire to explore beyond the reach of tourism, deep into the landscape, nature and culture inherent there."
A Landscape That Never Stands Still
Ask ‘R’ what he remembers most vividly about Lewis and Harris, and the answer isn't a single view or location. It is a feeling.
The sense of space, the vastness of the skies, the ever-changing sea. The feeling of being simultaneously insignificant and deeply connected to the landscape around you.
"It is the wildness of the sea, the darkness of the night sky and the realisation of how small we are when standing mesmerised beneath the Milky Way."
He speaks of dazzling white beaches beside turquoise water, ancient Lewisian gneiss glowing with unexpected colour, and weather systems that can transform the landscape in minutes. "Never was the phrase 'four seasons in a day' more pertinent."
One moment, towering cliffs plunge into an inky black sea. The next, sunlight illuminates crystal-clear water and beaches that seem almost tropical. Then, within the hour, the Atlantic returns as a spectacular display of power and movement.
Nothing remains the same; and yet somehow everything feels timeless. The islands are also rich with traces of the people who have lived there for thousands of years. Standing stones, brochs, ruined blackhouses and ancient cultivation patterns speak of generations who lived in close relationship with the landscape.
For Richard, this connection between people and place is one of the islands' greatest gifts.
"It reveals a synergy of life and nature, sadly lost to so many in our relentless lives on the mainland today."
Becoming Part of the Story
Over time, Lewis and Harris became more than somewhere to visit, It became somewhere to belong. The couple eventually purchased a bothy in Uigean, a moment ‘R’ describes as one of the most significant memories of all.
"Probably the moment that set the hairs on the back of our necks tingling was when we knew the bothy was ours and we were going to be part of this special place."
Today, Uigean is where they feel most at home. "It fills us with joy." Yet when they talk about what makes the islands special, they return repeatedly not to the landscape but to the people: "The area is full of the most interesting and creative people. There is such a strong sense of community; all pull together for the greater good of all."
Life moves at a different pace there. Simpler perhaps, but richer in ways that are difficult to measure. "It is the people that matter. Nothing is too much trouble. It’s a place of and for the people acting in shared harmony."
Their relationship with the islands continues to evolve. Even after years of visiting, the islands still reveal fresh details and new perspectives.
"There is never a day where we do not learn something new or walk a new route or see something remarkable in the landscape, fauna or flora."
Capturing a Place in Metal
When R&L first encountered my work in a gallery in Ashbourne, they immediately saw a connection.
"We were struck by the complexities and beauty inherent in your work."
As artistic people themselves, they were drawn to the craftsmanship and permanence of a handmade object. The choice of Lewis and Harris as a commission felt obvious, "What better way of celebrating our new home on the Isle of Lewis than having the island recreated in metal?". There was an added layer of significance too. The bothy they had purchased had once housed a smithy, creating an unexpected link between the building's history and the making of the artwork itself.
The islands' extraordinary geology made them an ambitious subject. "A landscape which possesses some of the oldest visible rocks in the world, shaped by ice and washed daily by the Atlantic, was going to be a challenge." But for R&L, the resulting piece captured exactly what they had hoped for.
"You were superb in capturing our vision and our hopes."
A Conversation Piece
The map currently hangs in their home in South Derbyshire while work continues on an extension to the bothy designed by ‘L’. Once complete, the piece will move north and take pride of place there. Until then, it continues to draw attention from visitors - "So many people are drawn to it, expressing interest and delight, both in the piece itself and in the island and our descriptions of it.". The artwork is not simply a representation of geography, it is a catalyst for storytelling. A reminder of journeys taken, memories made and a place that continues to shape their lives.
Reflecting on the commission process itself has even deepened their appreciation of both the landscape and the artwork.
"Rarely do we have the time to stand and stare, but this undertaking has been wonderful in giving us that honour and privilege."
One of my favourite comments from Richard came towards the end of our conversation: "We have looked, and now we see."
It perfectly captures what I hope these commissions can achieve. Not simply recording a place, but encouraging us to reflect on why it matters.
Looking Forward
When asked what he hopes the piece will mean in years to come, ‘Rs’ answer speaks not only to the artwork, but to the enduring relationship between memory and landscape.
"This piece is timeless. It encapsulates the past, celebrates the present and allows us to dream and look forward to a life lived in one of the most beautiful parts of the world."
The map is a portrait of an island - sure, but more than that it is a portrait of belonging for R&L.
A reminder that sometimes a place can become much more than a location on a map.