This project aims to bring fresh life to historic archives through artistic research focusing on the natural dye and textile collections of Hope MacDougall at Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds in Oban.

This is an international collaboration between Oban-based textile artist Deborah Gray, Irish artist Lyndsey McDougall, and Oban-based Japanese curator Naoko Mabon. It brings full-circle the Oban-Ireland exchange they initiated in 2024 titled Nettle Circle (International), which involved Ireland visit by Deborah and Naoko and exchanging naturally dyed or locally woven materials to make embroidery with participants and share skills/stories of two different yet deeply connected locations.

Re-searching Natural Colours of Argyll is an international part in the 2025 season of EcoCreative Cluster, a project focusing on natural dyes, pigments and the use of natural materials in art and craft, which was initiated in 2021 by The Rockfield Centre in Oban with Deborah and Naoko as co-leads.

More activities to follow – stay tuned!