Seminars, Workshops & Talks

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Unlocking the Mysteries of James Macpherson’s Ossianic Collections, Highland Landscapes and Literature of the 18th Century

Are you looking for a seminar, workshop or talk that delves into 18th century Highland literature and landscapes? I offer unique interactive workshops, seminars and talks that offer the latest insights into this fascinating area of historic research, to engage your audience. My area of expertise is related to James Macpherson’s Ossianic Collections of the 18th century and the wider topics of oral tradition, Highland literature in the 18th century and the relationship between the people, culture and the land.

Whether you’re organising a conference, seminar, or cultural event, please get in touch to discuss your event requirements.

Browse a selection of past projects, talks, and events below, showcasing my expertise in this field. I am also open to exploring other related themes, so feel free to share your ideas and requests.

Prices are dependent on project requirements.

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Past Seminars, Workshops & Talks

Words of Departure and a True Home

To the prejudicial looks of the fearful, the valley – surrounded by its dark mountains – may look like nothing could get in or out. Seemingly doomed to isolated stillness. But those who dared to experience the magic of these landscapes won’t be surprised that Badenoch was the starting point of stories that migrated into literatures around the world. Ossianic poetry and song carried the heartbeat of home, and made it possible to leave, without ever really leaving for some, and to find destinations, without ever having visited, for others. Words, which should not be measured solely by their popularity, but by their ability to lend a voice to those, previously silenced.

Ossianic Landscapes and Scottish Romanticism

A workshop to discuss, why James Macpherson’s Ossianic Collections are often referred to as the starting point of Romanticism, before taking a closer look at some text excerpts of the primary sources and an interactive element to create a digital exhibition space on Ossianic Landscapes.

Living Landscapes, A Special Exhibition

Special exhibition of 2023 at the Clan Macpherson Museum, which highlights that landscape is more than just a composition of natural features – it is also the intangible and invisible stories and responses brought to a place by humans interacting with it. This exhibition highlights the symbiosis of place, people and experiences and shows that our landscapes are just as alive as we are.

Ossianic Waterscapes

A paper to demonstrate that water in the Ossianic Collections is a natural force that develops an agency of its own: it divides and connects, it is danger and saviour at the same time, and it can decide between life and death. Due to its material properties and non-human entities, water is a useful element of nature to define its relationship with mankind, as water is inextricably bound with its human community. Like the waves of the ocean, the brevity of human life within the wider picture of nature and landscape is ever changing, ever developing, ungraspable and yet repeating and echoing itself.

Ossianic Landscapes and Photography

An autumn walk into the Glen above Newtonmore, to experience Ossian’s bardic tales in their natural environment of the Highlands. Listen to Ossianic poetry, while looking at the scenery that surrounded the bard and understand, how the Ossianic stories generated a fascination with our Highland landscapes far beyond the Scottish borders. Learn about the importance of nature in these stories and hear of their important link to Highland tourism.

A walk that encourages all attendees to participate in a dialogue, not only about Ossian, but also about the modern understanding of landscape, culture, and belonging and invites everyone to express their understanding of these terms in creative photography.

A selection of these photographs will be displayed in the special exhibition of 2023 at the Clan Macpherson Museum.

Ossian’s Wild Imagination

A practical workshop on James Macpherson’s Ossianic Collections (1760-63). Together participants explore excerpts from the poetry and create their own artistic responses to them, inspired by the landscapes around us.

Water Patriotism in 18th Century Scottish Highland Literature on the example of James Macpherson’s Ossianic Collections

Talk at the international conference on ‘Water: Art – History – Literature’ with subsequent publication of a paper in Akteur: Wasser: Betrachtungen aus den Rechts-, Geo-, Kunst-, Musik und Literaturwissenschaften.