AIM Artists 2024/5
Over the last year, the Moray Way Association collaborated with local artists to reimagine The Pilgrimages in Moray – A Guide to the County, a 1924 pocket guidebook featuring descriptions of walks across Moray. Discovered by the MWA Chair at Moray Waste Busters, this historic book was originally created to inspire both locals and visitors to explore the rich heritage of Moray. However, the author lamented the absence of illustrations, maps, and reference notes—elements that could have brought the book to life for a wider audience.
Building on the ethos of the Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival- an event which the MWA run annually- which blends Moray’s natural, historical, and cultural landscapes into each walk, this project aimed to breathe new life into these historical routes of Moray. By working with artists we hoped to create a contemporary interpretation of walks, engaging new audiences, while celebrating the stories of Moray.
Each artist collaborated with a member of the Moray Way Association, walking the routes together. The artists then went on to refine or reimagine the routes bringing them to life through their perspectives, using creative and innovative approaches to share Moray’s rich heritage with a modern audience.
Some of the artists are running events as part the AIM Showcase and some will be running events as part of the Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival 13 -23 June 2025.
The five artists are:
KATE CAMERON REID
Kate Cameron Reid is a multidisciplinary, contemporary artist. Her work is primarily autobiographical and self-explorative, recreating fragments of a narrative in each piece. Often utilising personal belongings or found objects as a metaphor, she aims to draw the viewer into her work through the intimacy of the story being told. Each work is a fragment of time, depicting memories and life events, exploring emotionally charged themes of loss, grief, trauma, and fragility. The forefront of her creative practice is to raise questions in the storytelling of each piece and create continuous conversation, with the fundamental intention for human connection.
A graduate of Central Saint Martins (BA Hons), Kate started her career on Savile Row, worked in the fashion industry for 15 years and lectured at Ravensbourne University London, before transitioning to contemporary art. Having previously lived in London, Kate relocated to Scotland and now resides on the North-East coast. Kate has recently exhibited at the Cabrach Trust, Elgin Cathedral and The Royal Scottish Academy.
About the Residency
Kate Cameron Reid’s residency, in contrast to The Pilgrimages of Moray book, re-traced the steps of Sandy Edwards, an elderly Lossiemouth fisherman through his handwritten dairy. Kate explored the stories of the diary, mapping significant and poignant locations marked by history and community. Moray Way Association Committee Member, Lise Olsen supported Kate on the initial planning walk around Lossiemouth.
With special thanks to Lossiemouth Fisheries and Community Museum, Isobel Nelson, Dennis Slater, Davey Mackenzie and Angie Stewart.
Join Kate on her walk as part of AIM III Showcase here.
STUART MCADAM
I’m an artist and teacher based in Aberdeen. I am interested in landscapes and places – how we use them, how we change them, what we leave behind, and what stories are contained in them.
I do performances and actions, I make drawings and collages, and I make videos. I sometimes do some writing as well.
About the Residency
Stuart’s residency took place between Forres and Elgin on the 50-mile Laich o’ Moray challenge walking route which covered many of the places mentioned in The Pilgrimages of Moray, by H B Mackintosh. The route was developed for the North of Scotland Branch of the Long Distance Walking Association. He walked it in two stages, the first 33 miles with Moray Walking Association Treasurer Bea Jefferson, and the second 17 miles alone. Stuart’s main interest in this is related to the differences between challenge and pilgrim walking. He made a piece of writing and some drawings that document and reflect on this idea.
Stuart will be talking about his residency as part of the AIM II Showcase. Find out more about it here.
Alexander Williamson
Alexander Williamson is a Highlands-based visual documentarian and creative practitioner. Working across Scotland and the UK, Alexander’s work interweaves photography, filmmaking, creative writing and academic research. His photographic practice combines with (auto)ethnography, documentary and travel photography, alternating between digital and analogue approaches to document ephemeral, strange and unnoticed spaces. Alexander has a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Birkbeck, University or London, and is studying for an Mres at the Centre for Living Sustainability at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness.
Alex will be hosting a walk in connection to his work during the Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival 13-23 June 2025.
JENNY FRASER HARRIS
Jenny Fraser Harris is an interdisciplinary artist whose work is rooted in cultural ecology.
“I explore themes of resilience, both human and environmental, through abstract painting, material experimentation, and reflective dialogue. My practice seeks to
stretch time and consider the long-term, whilst examining the intricate relationships between people and land. Through layers of paint and material, I uncover the interconnected, often-overlooked stories that shape our present and influence the world around us. I develop an integrate materials and pigments sourced from ‘waste’ and bio-substances, using them to contrast and amplify these narratives.
Critical reflection and open dialogue are integral to my process. My intention is to transform our understanding of time, place, and the choices we have in the present. Through highlighting the voices of future generations, I hope to foster a deeper awareness of our interconnection with nature and our collective responsibility for the future.”
jennyfraserharris.com @jennyfraserharris
About the Residency
Jenny developed a walk in collaboration with Stephen Coomber from The Moray Way Association, beginning in the heart of Elgin and moving east toward the rural setting of Loch na Bo. Drawing inspiration from the ‘forum’ of Elgin, as referenced in The Pilgrimages of Moray, the journey was rooted in the idea of exchange and influence—both in the past and present. This sparked a reflection on cultural practices and led to the central question; Are we being good ancestors?
The walk and the resulting artwork weave together stories and research viewed through this lens. Jenny created paper from ‘waste’ pomace gathered from an orchard along the route, layering it with painting and mark making to symbolise and contextualise the enduring influence of the past and the volume of the future.
Join Jenny on her walk as part of the AIM III Showcase here.
HAYLEY ANDERSON
Hayley is a visual artist who mainly works with printmaking. Her latest works combine lino printing and papercut techniques to produce three-dimensional wall-mounted paper installations influenced by place and nature. Additionally, Hayley often incorporates elements of Scottish folklore and mythology into her works, reflecting her interest in history and tradition. This thematic choice pays homage to her heritage and allows her to connect contemporary audiences with timeless tales and cultural narratives.
Hayley is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Art and Social Practice at UHI Shetland. Her research centres on anthropology, cultural heritage, and indigenous craft practices. In her studies, she explores the intersection of art and community engagement, focusing on how traditional crafts can strengthen cultural identity and foster social cohesion.
Hayley runs her business, Buff and Blue Prints, from her home in Lossiemouth and conducts printmaking workshops throughout Scotland. Most recently, her work has been exhibited at the Kilo Gallery in Rovaniemi, Finland, and the American University in Dubai.
@buffandblueprints
About the Residency
Hayley conducted a residency at the Orton Estate in partnership with Kath Todd from the Moray Way Association. This residency focused on a walk designed to replicate the pilgrimage to St Mary’s Well.
By incorporating stories of local folklore about the mythical healing properties of the water from St Mary’s and the scenery from the walk, Hayley created a traditional lino print in the style of 1920s illustrators, linking it to the period in which the Pilgrimages in Moray book was published. Her mission was to weave together the rich threads of history, captivating storytelling, and immersive walking experiences to vividly bring the enchanting tale of St. Mary’s to life.
Hayley will be hosting a walk in connection to her work during the Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival 13-23 June 2025.