Let’s flock ‘n’ roll: The latest star of the Royal Highland Show's touring art project
The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling Championships is returning to the Royal Highland Show in June after 20 years.
Held in the MacRobert Theatre, more than 35 countries from across the world will battle it out to see who is the fastest sheep shearer and who has the best woolhandling technique.
The highly-anticipated event will feature 39 decorated sheep sculptures that are currently on tour across Scotland in the Flock to the Show public art trail.
The Scotsman is the media partner for both events and the Royal Highland Show is held from 22 to 25 June.
Visit the website at royalhighlandshow.org
Meet the artist
Kath Pender creates paintings and drawings inspired by our connection to the wild and mountainous landscapes of Scotland. Through sketching and photographing the landscape while on outdoor adventures, she creates artwork that evokes the feelings and emotions of being immersed in nature, as well as representing specific places and stories.
She uses a mix of observational drawings and layers of oil paints and varnishes to get movement and flow into her work, mixing the permanence of the rock
and mountains with the ever-changing elements of weather, water, and sky.
Her artistic career spans over 20 years, and she is currently based in Glasgow.
Kath said: “This work is inspired by the landscape history of Scotland and portrays the changing use of the land over time. Depicting two bothies nestled on opposite banks of Loch Etive underneath the mountains of the central highlands, it explores the shifting histories of the land they stand on.”
V-ewe from the Bothy
V-ewe from the Bothy by Kath Pender highlights efforts to reduce suicide rates in rural Scotland, where they have historically been higher than in urban areas.
For example, the Scottish Government’s Choose Life strategy includes a specific focus on rural areas, with initiatives such as the Rural Support Trust providing mental health support to farmers and other rural workers. The Farming Community Network and RSABI also offer support services and resources to farmers and their families.
A number of community- led initiatives have been developed to promote mental health and well-being, such as the Are You Okay? campaign, which encourages
people to check in on each other and provide support to those who may be struggling.
Mental health training for first responders and community leaders is also being implemented to ensure those who are likely to come into contact with people at risk of suicide are better equipped to provide support.
Meet the sponsor
Taylors Snacks is a family-run business based in Perthshire and Yorkshire that has been running for 15 years.
Previously trading under Mackie’s Crisps, the Taylors brand aims to create snacking experiences that bring people together by celebrating what makes us all different.
The firm said: “This year marks the beginning of a new adventure for Taylors, bringing a growing range of snacks to consumers across the UK, under our family name.
“With such an exciting year in the pipeline regarding our rebranding and launch, we were really keen to get our products into the hands (and mouths) of the people of Scotland – cue the Royal Highland Show!
“There are very few events across the whole of the UK that offer such a great opportunity to engage with so many people, in such a fun, family-friendly setting.”
Find your fleece
Locate today’s sheep and access our VIP competition to win free parking, hospitality, and lots more by following this link.