Mapping the Machair

Student thesis: Master's ThesisMaster of Research (awarded by UHI)

Abstract

The research aim is to create a novel symbolic textile language which draws on data collected between February 2023 and March 2024 from a specific area of machair on the Isle of North Uist. The data collected is drawn from several sources; audio recordings, journals, photography and informal botanical mapping. This dissertation is a written account, detailing research enquiries and outcomes of a specific aspect of my creative practice and how my practice altered throughout the research period. As a multi-disciplinary creative practitioner (weave, paint, photography) it is my intention to create a
symbolic textile language for use within my weaving, commercially and conceptually, and to highlight both the unique landscape of the machair, and Scottish textile identity within the context of my own multi ethnic heritage.
This research centers on the Scottish machair landscape as a backdrop for exploring the historical and cultural significance of textiles. It aims to highlight the role of intercultural exchange within the textile industry, while also examining the practices of some rural textile communities across different global contexts.
Date of Award8 Aug 2025
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • University of the Highlands and Islands

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