Ripple Effects: Hope in Scotland's Seas

Ripple Effects: Hope in Scotland's Seas brings together three artists and writers connected through their shared passion and hope for Scotland's seas. Jane Smith, Renuka Ramanujam and Christina Riley (The Nature Library) will share their underwater experiences as well as what hope and community means to them when it comes to Scotland's seas.

This event will be accompanied by a selection of artworks from the Argyll Hope Spot snorkelling artist residencies.

• 12:30 — Arrival, tea and coffee, viewing of artworks
• 13:00 — In conversation: Jane Smith, Renuka Ramanujam and Christina Riley
• 13:45 — Audience Q&A
• 14:00 — Finish

This event is free to attend but booking is essential.

Hope Spots are a growing global network of areas designated by the organisation Mission Blue as being vital to the ocean's health—including the Galapagos Islands and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef—creating a global wave of community support for ocean conservation. The Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot is a community-led celebration of the world-class natural riches of this part of Scotland, and has hosted snorkelling residencies for artists in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as a way of bringing a range of audiences closer to the incredible world hidden beneath the surface.

After gaining a degree in Zoology, Jane Smith became a wildlife film maker for the BBC Natural History Unit and National Geographic. She now creates wildlife art from her home on the west coast of Scotland to communicate her passion for the natural world. At each Hope Spot residency, Jane has guided artists in marine observation and underwater mark-making. Renuka Ramanujam is multidisciplinary designer and founder of HUID, a biotech startup turning onion waste into smart, compostable packaging. With a background in textiles, Renuka lectures at Central Saint Martins, focusing on the implementation of sustainability and circularity in textiles and beyond. Renuka work explores the intersections of sustainability and anthropology and she is passionate about fostering deeper connections between people and the planet.

Christina Riley is founder of The Nature Library and a 2022 resident of the Argyll Hope Spot residency. Her work incorporates photography, writing and found materials, often focusing on coastal landscapes and marine objects. Starting The Nature Library in 2019, she's interested in the value of storytelling and community spaces in times of climate crisis.

argyllhopespot.scot janesmithwildlifeart.weebly.com studiomudra.co.uk christinariley.co.uk thenaturelibrary.com

This event is supported by Book Week Scotland 2024 event funding.