Susannah Bolton
Up next with Uist Beò is Taigh Chearsabhagh’s Gaelic and Communications Manager, Susannah Bolton. Susannah’s artistic journey began within the landscapes of Uist, and has stretched far beyond the shores of these islands, through Edinburgh, London, and beyond. Known for her interdisciplinary work, Susannah’s practice reflects a rich blend of personal history, cultural exploration, and a deep connection to the places she has called home.
After leaving Sgoil Lionacleit, Susannah studied for two years in Edinburgh before going to university. During her time in the capital, the door flew open into the art world.
‘They had the most fantastic art department at the school there and the art teacher was a complete beacon of imagination and creativity. That was really what sparked me into actually considering doing art after school, because I used to just have it in the timetable as something I really enjoyed, but I didn’t consider it as a career at all.’
Susannah’s time in Edinburgh marked a major shift in her path. It was there that she began exploring sculpture, a discipline that allowed her to merge her interest in geography, chemistry, and the environment.
‘That’s where I started thinking about sculpture a bit more, actually, because it was suddenly an option to start really making things in 3D. And I realised quite late on actually that I was a little bit homesick and thinking about what it was that I missed about the islands.
I was piecing together those bits of my identity, of my memories, and of my interests that all overlapped and and trying to think of what I could construct out of that. The things I was making were really laborious. I was recreating geological features like sea stacks in wax that were taking an absolute age.’
Her Edinburgh experience expanded her understanding of what art could be. ‘At first I thought all the art I could make was painting or drawing, but I soon realised there was so much more to it—writing, sculpture, performance. It was liberating to realise that I could bring all my different interests into my work. I’d seen lots of work in galleries but never thought of it as something I could do.’ she says.
In her next steps, Susannah took off south of the border to London to study at Camberwell College of Arts. A last minute decision and a 180 switch from her initial plans. ‘I was going to study Chemistry. I’d been accepted to some places but with 5 days to the deadline, I decided to apply for a new course. I ended up in London, and it felt right. It was a great environment to develop my practice and learn more.’
But it wasn’t just formal education that shaped Susannah’s career; her involvement in various artist residencies also played a significant role in her artistic growth. ‘I’ve been lucky to work in residencies where I’ve had time and space to think, make, and research. It’s where I really get to know what I’m trying to say through my work,’ she says, acknowledging the value of stepping outside her comfort zone and immersing herself in new environments.
Now back in Uist, Susannah works not only as an artist but also as the Gaelic and Communications Manager at Taigh Chearsabhagh. In this role, Susannah has been able to combine her love of the Gaelic language with her passion for the arts. Gaelic is embedded in everything that they do at Taigh Chearsabhagh.
‘Just like everybody working in the arts, you cover an awful lot of things all at once. So it means that I’m part of the leadership team, focusing on advocating for Gaelic within the arts alongside delivering events and co-ordinating communications content with the excellent Eilidh Johnson.’
‘It’s all about making the arts accessible and relevant to local people. I’m focused on ensuring that our programs are flexible and responsive to what the community needs,’ she says. Through her work, she aims to foster an inclusive arts scene, grounded in the traditions of the islands but also open to new ideas and practices.
Looking to the future, Susannah is excited about a new project which will take her to Patagonia, where she’ll be collaborating with AJ Stockwell on an exchange that brings together artists from Scotland and Chile. ‘We’re going to the Chiloe archipelago for two weeks to explore the shared histories of island landscapes, folklore, and textiles. AJ’s focus is on geological bodies, stone and lichen, and I’ll be exploring translation and textiles, so it’s a really exciting mix of materials and ideas.’
For Susannah, this international collaboration is a continuation of her journey of artistic exploration, which is rooted in the landscapes she’s always loved. But her work doesn’t just take place in far-off lands; it’s deeply connected to the stories, people, and places of Uist.
‘Being here, in Uist, feels like a perfect balance. It’s the place where I always come back to, where I draw inspiration from, and where I can contribute to the cultural life of the islands.’
Despite the challenges of freelance life, Susannah remains optimistic. ‘It’s not easy being a freelancer, but you’ve got to be optimistic, right? I’ve always been someone who wants to see opportunities rather than obstacles. And when you’re part of a community like this, people are incredibly supportive.
The future of Taigh Chearsabhagh is about building meaningful connections with the community and also bringing in more diverse voices. And as for me, I’m excited to see where my practice goes. I don’t plan too far ahead, but I know I’m always learning and evolving.’
Susannah also encourages anybody with an idea to come into Taigh Chearsabhagh and see how their project can come to life in the centre. She simply says:
‘Just get in touch. Talk to us. We try to be flexible enough and are quite open to new ideas and we’re happy to connect people with different projects that fit. Come on in and I’ll do my best to make time for a coffee and chat!
To see what’s happening at Taigh Chearsabhagh, you can follow them online through these links:
