isle of harris
OCT 5th-Oct 9th, 2025
Four Nights and three days of creativity on the isle of harris
Join us on the Isle of Harris for 3 full days of creativity, community and photography, all with the support of a warm and nurturing team.
With Margaret Soraya, John Maher, Elisabeth Philipps, Mhairi Law, Neale James, Alister Benn, Adele & Max Warner Tate, Adrian & Clea Beasley, Carien Borst, Emma Simpson, James Kelly
Arrival Sunday PM October 5th 2025
Departure Thursday AM October 9th, 2025
+++++++Last few tickets ++++++
The Outer Hebrides is a special place both for its beautiful beaches and its unique island character. Best known for the stretches of beaches such as Luskentyre and Scarista on the west of the island, the rocky East side also offers a different side to the island. My home is in Geocrab on the East side, and I have come to love the rocky bays, quiet single-track roads dotted with lochs, sheep, seals, and galleries around each corner. Experiencing a taste of the real Harris is my aim. The creativity, the wildness, the friendly people, the history, and the artists who live there.
For this year’s festival, I aim to put together a schedule that mixes time out in the landscape with flavours of Harris, space for creativity, and freedom of expression.
As always, the leaders will be chosen to fit with the festival’s values of kindness, encouragement, and support. More leaders and local facilitators will be announced as planning progresses.
Our days will be spent with a mixture of photography sessions, speakers, and classes: photography, painting, journalling, and smartphone photography with creative apps. The full schedule will be announced closer to the time, but you can be assured of a true island welcome, time and space to be creative and inspired during your time on the Isle of Harris
NEW ++ GROUP EXHIBITION
We invite you to submit 1 of your own images for our group exhibition, which will hang at the main location for our talks and events. A fabulous opportunity to share your work and allow others to see what your work. The cost of printing and mounting onto foamboard of 1 image is included in your ticket. The print is yours to keep afterwards. If you wish to submit more, there is an additional fee of £20, but you are welcome to do so.
You cant use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have "
Maya Angelou
THE LOCATION
The Outer Hebrides is tranquil, peaceful, and welcoming. It is Margaret’s home and therefore this festival is a very special event.
We’ll be staying at The Harris Hotel & Hotel Hebrides, Kirklea Island Suites and other accommodation close to tarbert, over four nights . We will be using the local community centres and hearing from local artists and inspirational speakers. Trips out to the beautiful beaches and bays of Harris to see some of the finest beaches and remote landscapes will feature heavily.
Bringing in the Harris community, artists and local businesses into this festival is something I aim to achieve.
The plans
The festival is three days and four nights of creativity, inspirational sessions and led classes designed to inspire you to create and leave you feeling uplifted and at peace.
The cost includes all classes, speaker sessions, lunch & dinner. Includes arrival meal on the 5th and 3 days lunch & dinner. A Ceildih dance will be organised for one evening.
We have additional optional workshops and trips before the festival ( 3rd & 4th ) to allow you to make a week of the trip. Please visit the shop to purchase
It is advisable to book for slightly longer due to the nature of getting to the island. Hotel bookings outwith the 5-8th are not held for us and subject to availability.
Approx 50 tickets available
What your day may look like
*Please note this is just a sample and may change
7.30am Breakfast
8.30am Photography walk to beaches or Bays of Harris / OR a Creative session
1pm Lunch at the Hotel
2pm – Optional drop in activities : Paint with Carien & Coffee/ cake & chat with Margaret – both taking place at the community centre
4- 6 pm Speakers – at the Community Centre
7.00pm Dinner together at the Harris Hotel
8.00pm Ceildih or drinks
What others have said about Creative Light
The Creative Light Festival was a rich and rewarding experience that I highly recommend. To share creative time with like minded and supportive people with inspiring leaders in a beautiful setting is something not many people get to experience.
Thank you Margaret to you and your team you created a truly special Creative Light Festival everything was wonderfully taken care of making the whole experience inspiring and memorable, encouraging and reassuring.
The Creative Light Festival has been full to the brim with walks, talks, hands on learning and so many warm and inspiring people. I have come away with a deep sense of personal wellbeing, not just creatively but mentally and physically too.
So enjoyed the creative light festival. Really well organised and put together by Margaret and her team. Made new friendships with fellow creatives and feel re-inspired and motivated. So lovely to be out in the amazing autumn scenery and be refreshed by nature.
Total immersion into creativity, inspired by genuinely creative people.
The first Creative Light Festival was a delight from start to finish. It was beautifully organised but felt completely relaxed. The tutors were hand picked and fitted in perfectly. I’m hoping to have a place for next year.
This has been the highlight of the second half of the year. Fabulous people, beautiful locations and inspirational stories.
Watch previous years highlights
Cost to attend
£845 pp / £795pp Creative Haven member
The price includes:
- Lunch & dinner at the Harris Hotel – from dinner on 5th Oct
- All tuition and speaker sessions
- A taste os the Harris Distillery – first drink included
- One print submission for the group exhibition – printed for you
- Location trips
- Ceildih dance
This is a ticketed event, and full payment is made upon ticket purchase and is non-refundable but transferrable. Please ensure you are aware of these terms & conditions before purchasing.
++Not included – Alcohol, Insurance, Travel to Harris, Accommodation++