Danielle Macleod was awarded the 2024 Harry Kerr Bursary. Danielle is a gifted mask maker and photographer from the Isle of Lewis, whose work is deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of the Hebrides. Her photography, captured on medium format film, is known for its evocative portrayal of traditional Hebridean life, local legends, and the mystical connection between people and their landscapes.
This project explored traditional healing medicines and practices of the Highlands and Islands through portraits and landscapes printed in cyanotype and toned with botanicals. It focused on the plants and materials used in ancient folk-healing traditions. Drawing on Healing Threads by Mary Beith, Danielle identified and gathered specific plants to create wearable sculptures, photographed on a model in the landscapes from which the materials came. The resulting images formed a visual poem linking people to place. The final work consisted of four wearable sculptures and their accompanying contextual photographs. ‘Gorm an Fheòir / The Blue of the Grass’ ran from the 7th of June to the 29th of August 2025 and was shown at Grinneabhat on the Isle of Lewis.
The Harry Kerr Bursary has been made possible by generous donor contributions. Our goal is to raise €25,000 to fund five bursaries of €5,000 per year for the next five years, providing ongoing support to deserving artists. Together, we can honour Harry and continue his mission of fostering creativity, technical skill and artistic excellence in photography.
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- June 07, 2025
