Vandals destroy work of art at well-known beauty spot

Lynn Bennett-Mackenzie had placed 200 small wood houses in 19 locations along a forest trail at Inverewe Gardens, owned by the National Trust of Scotland.

But a large part of her work in Wester Ross has been stolen – with bags of dog waste being put in its place among trees nearby.

NTS said such vandalism was “virtually unknown” in the area.

Gairloch-based Bennett-Mackenzie said she was always prepared for criticism of her art, but not vandalism of it.

She said: “This is a stunning area of the country that has a low rate of crime, and petty vandalism is not common. So this is something of a shock and actually a bit upsetting to think that someone has seen fit to remove most of a work that has taken a fair amount of effort to construct and place and that creates a point of interest and pleasure for people out walking.”

Bennett-Mackenzie has exhibited her work in Russia and, with Indian Somu Desai, is putting together an international artist residency programme for the north-west Highlands. She hopes the residency will attract artists from India, Germany, France and Mexico.

She added: “I intend to replace the houses that have ‘disappeared’ and hope that this time the work will manage to remain mainly intact until it is removed in November.”

Inverewe Gardens were created in 1862 and its plants include species from New Zealand, Chile and South Africa.

It is also believed to be home to the world’s most northerly grove of Wollemi Pine, a Jurassic tree thought to have died out two million years ago before being discovered in Australia. The gardens benefit from the warm currents of the Gulf Stream.

NTS said it had been delighted to facilitate Bennett-Mackenzie’s project, which saw the houses installed in March. A spokeswoman added: “We are very disappointed that in an area where crime of any description is virtually unknown such mindless vandalism has taken place.

“We hope that the artist will not be discouraged as her project is both interesting and good for this small community.”

Over 73,000 visitors go to Inverewe Gardens each year.

The original Inverewe Lodge was destroyed by fire in 1914 and replaced in 1937 by the current Inverewe House. The Garden covers some 20 hectares (49 acres) and has more than 2,500 exotic plants and flowers. There are a further 2,000 acres of land managed for recreation and conservation.

The garden and estate have been the property of the National Trust for Scotland since it was gifted to the trust along with a generous endowment for its future upkeep by former owner’s daughter, Mairi Sawyer, in 1952.

Born in 1967, Lynn Bennett-Mackenzie was brought up in the remote rural areas of the Highlands of Scotland. She studied at Gray’s School of Art, graduating in 1990 and now has a workshop/studio on a picturesque croft, where she also operates a thriving framing business.

She works in various media – oils, mixed media, watercolour and pen and ink. Her work is evocative of the Highlands and is inspired by the light, colours and stories of the area.