July has been full to the brim so far.
A Drever family weekend to Dalmigavie Lodge, a trip down memory lane to Edinburgh, The Orkney Island Games 2025. Just how the Summer months should be. With all this happening time to paint has been limited, but that is ok.
Dalmigavie Lodge was a beautiful spot for a few days rest and relaxation. A gift from mum and dad for all 18 of the family: parents, children, grandchildren and partners. Highlights were our sports day and photo competition – the Lodge was beautifully quirky with paintings and photos throughout, original features and a homely feel that made us want to stay longer.
Another highlight was a dip in the Findhorn River – a great way to end the weekend.
Next stop was Edinburgh with my daughter Rosa. We wandered, shopped, visited old haunts. Most importantly we stopped past the Scottish Gallery to meet with Christina to check in and discuss my next Solo in March 2026. I’ll not say too much about this now apart from if you’d like to be added to the mailing list for an invite to this exhibition, please get in touch. Would be really great to see some friendly faces next year.
On arrival home, Orkney was in the last stages of preparing to welcome over 2,000 competitors, officials and spectators from across the world to compete in the Orkney Island Games 2025, nobody could have imagined how much of an exciting week it was going to be for Orkney. A week of glorious sunshine like no other week experienced in Orkney. It has been suggested that the last time the sunshine shone so brightly was in 1976.
The week has been given the title of the Golden Games.
In younger days sport was a big part of my life – now, enjoyment comes from supporting our children and being involved in different ways. A few months back Soulisquoy Printmakers was approached by Gabrielle Barnby, Orkneys very own Orkney Island Games scrivener, to accompany the written text in the competitors souvenir pocket book.
Switha was my contribution:
“The essence of Orkney’s magic is silence, loneliness, and the deep marvellous rhythms of the sea and land, darkness and light.” George Mackay Brown
The collection of prints – each an edition (of at least) five – made by Lucy Barnfather, Megumu Barrington Uenoyama, Carolyn Bevan, Shona Firth, Gillian Johnstone, Joanne B Kaar, Laura Phillips, Gwyd Williams and myself can be viewed at The Pier Arts Centre for the duration of the Games, then until the 16th August 2025.
Today it is back to the Studio to my paint brushes before heading away again next week. Yesterday a walk along the shore to prepare and reflect.
Laura Drever 
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