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reFresh residency: Martin Campbell

For the reFresh exhibition, as part of Làn-Thìde, the Outer Hebrides Climate Beacon, Taigh Chearsabhagh is hosting creative residencies in partnership with Ceòlas and Cothrom/ReStore.

These residencies are questioning consumption and production, with each resident’s creative set to collaborate with local communities to conduct experimentation with waste materials. We will collectively develop skills and methodologies through free workshops hosted across North Uist, Benbecula, and South Uist.

Obair-làimhe / Hand-work: An introduction to hand-making functional objects from waste materials.

Participants are invited to take part in a one-day woodworking workshop activity lead by designer and maker, Martin Campbell

For their reFresh workshops, Martin will engage participants in making a range of small projects which can be undertaken in the workshops. Projects will include a 3 leg ‘milking stool’ or traditional Scottish ‘creepie’ seat, and a saw-horse or carpenter’s style trestle. The projects will vary in skill level required and will be suitable for the complete novice or those with a little more advanced woodworking ability. 

Martin will show some completed examples of the project, deconstruct these and guide participants through each step and process involved in making them. 

Participants can expect to develop some practical skills and gain some experience in furniture making techniques. Martin will also be available for advice and guidance for participants considering a vocation in creative woodwork or furniture making.

The first set of workshops will take place at Cothrom on the 9th and 10th of April, 10 am – 4 pm each day.

Address: Cothrom ReStore, Ormiclate, South Uist HS8 5SB

The second set of workshops will take place at Ceann na h-Àiridh on the 30th of April and the 1st of May, 10 am – 4 pm each day.

Address: Scotvein, Grimsay, North Uist HS6 5JA

Suitable for those with little or no prior woodwork experience. Recommended for ages 11+. 

Participants are encouraged (although not required) to bring along any of your own tools and contribute any old or broken items of wooden furniture or waste materials they may have to be considered for materials used in the workshop activity. 


Martin Campbell is a designer & maker originally from Benbecula and now currently living and working in Glasgow, Scotland. 

Martin enjoys a diverse range of work from bespoke domestic furniture commissions to collaborative community arts and public engagement projects. 

The current focus of his work is on becoming less reliant on imported materials and aims to provide examples of thoughtful and highly considered handmade products utilising the inherent properties of materials sourced locally.