Earlier this year I was commissioned by The National Museum of Scotland to produce an illustration of “The Skye Boat Song”, to be used on a new range of merchandise. This was to coincide with their 2017 summer/autumn exhibition, “Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites”. I found doing the research for this project fascinating and it was wonderful to finally meet the talented calligrapher, Susie Leiper, who supplied the Jacobean script for the first verse of the song. For many years I’ve heard Susie’s name as I’ve often been asked if we’re related. I can now confirm officially that we’re not but Helen, who commissioned us both, says she’s delighted to have some Leiper Leiper products in the museum shop.

To date our image has been made into a print (£6.99), card (£2.75) and tea towel (£8.99). A mug is also in the production pipelines. All are available from the National Museum of Scotland shop.