The Isle of Bute had a rather special visit on 17 September 2026, when Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales—known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay—came to the island for the first time in an official capacity.
Their visit celebrated community, connection and volunteering: the things that quietly hold island life together. They met members of Bute Shinty Club, visited the community-owned Anchor Tavern in Rothesay and joined local volunteers at Ettrick Bay, highlighting both the people and the natural beauty of Bute.
It was lovely to see our island receiving such warm attention. But for me, there was also a small and unexpected moment hidden within the photographs of the day.
A little piece of my Bute story was already there
I was not at the Anchor Tavern when the royal couple visited, but when the photographs appeared, I spotted something familiar on the bar—my own Bute artwork.
There it was, quietly sitting in the background while the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay met people inside the pub. I had to laugh. I might not have been in the room, but a little piece of my work had made it into the photograph.
Whether they noticed it, I cannot say, and I would never pretend that they endorsed it. That is not the point. What made the moment special was seeing something I created as part of a much bigger picture of Bute: local people, local places, community ownership, creativity and island life.
Art sometimes travels in funny ways. You make something at your desk or in your studio, it finds its way into a local business, and one day it unexpectedly appears in a photograph being seen around the world.
That felt quietly brilliant.
Original Bute artwork, created over many years
I have been drawing and creating artwork inspired by the Isle of Bute for many years. My work has grown alongside changes in digital technology, but the heart of it has always remained the same: bright colour, bold outlines, familiar buildings, ferries, beaches, landscapes and the small details that make Bute feel like Bute.
Bute Gifts brings that work together across prints, mugs, keyrings, decorations, clothing, postcards and other locally inspired gifts. Some designs come from my archive, while others are completely new. Together, they record a long creative relationship with the island where I live and work.
The photograph from the Anchor Tavern was only a fleeting moment, but it felt like a lovely reminder that locally made artwork becomes part of the places it represents. It leaves the studio, enters shops, pubs and homes, and becomes woven into the visual story of the island.
The places highlighted during the royal visit
The visit showed several different sides of Bute.
Rothesay is the island’s main town and the arrival point for most visitors travelling by ferry from Wemyss Bay. Its seafront, castle, historic buildings, independent businesses and community spaces give the town its distinctive character.
The Anchor Tavern represents another important part of island life: a local place brought into community ownership and kept alive through people working together.
Ettrick Bay, on Bute’s west coast, is one of the island’s best-known beaches. With its long stretch of sand, open views and ever-changing sky, it is a place loved by residents and visitors—and one that has inspired artists and photographers for generations.
Bute Shinty Club brought Scottish sporting tradition into the day, while the environmental work highlighted at Ettrick Bay showed the care local volunteers give to the island’s coastline.
Together, those stops offered a true glimpse of Bute: creative, beautiful, community-minded and full of character.
A welcome moment for the Isle of Bute
The royal visit gave Bute valuable national and international visibility. For a small island, that attention matters. It introduces new people to Rothesay, Ettrick Bay and the wider Isle of Bute, and it may encourage visitors to discover the island for themselves.
For local artists, makers and independent businesses, it is also a reminder of the importance of telling our own stories clearly. Visitors increasingly want to know where a product came from, who made it and what connects it to the place they are visiting.
That is exactly what I want the Bute Gifts relaunch to celebrate: original artwork with a genuine connection to the island, created here over many years and inspired by real Bute places and experiences.
A photograph, an island and a happy coincidence
There was something wonderfully Bute about the whole thing. A major royal visit was taking place, cameras were everywhere, and my artwork was simply sitting on the bar getting on with its day.
I did not arrange it. I was not expecting it. I just opened the photographs and thought: Wait a minute—that’s mine!
It made me smile, and it has given me another little chapter to add to the story of my work on the Isle of Bute.
If you are planning a visit to Bute—or looking for a gift that carries a genuine piece of the island with it—you can explore my original Bute artwork and products through Bute Gifts.
And if you happen to spot one of my pictures somewhere around the island, take a photograph. You never know who might be standing beside it next.