Each Torabhaig release begins with a sense of place - from the Allts that bring fresh water to the distillery, to the Cnoc of peat that sits on our horizon.
But with Torabhaig Taigh, our first core expression, that connection takes on a deeper meaning. Taigh - meaning house, but to us, home - is shaped not just by the land around us, but by the people and stories that live within it.
So for this release, we invited local artist Aileen Grant to capture that feeling. Not just the landscape of Skye and its surrounding shores, but something more personal - a sense of home, of familiarity, of belonging. Working from her studio in Lochcarron and sketching across the landscapes she knows so well, Aileen brought her own perspective to Taigh: grounded, expressive, and quietly full of life.
We caught up with Aileen to hear more about her process, her connection to place, and what “home” really means to her.
What does ‘home’ mean to you — emotionally or creatively?
“Home to me means a cosy, calm and welcoming space. It is also where my studio is - the place where I do a lot of creative thinking as well as painting and printmaking.”
What role does the weather play in your process?
“The weather is so important. It affects how I feel about a place, and so what the painting is trying to say.
“The quality of the light is a key aspect, as are sun and shadow. Sometimes the weather becomes the main subject altogether - I often find myself painting stormy seas, drawn to that movement and energy.”
How do you know when a piece is finished — is it instinctual?
“Ah, this is a key question for all artists. Did you know that Picasso said that to ‘finish’ a painting is to kill it?
“I find I need to step away from a piece and review it. Does the work still feel fresh? Does it still hold your attention? That’s usually how I decide.”
What was it like creating work so closely tied to a place and culture?
“Most of my work is about place - its character and its idiosyncrasies. And places are always imbued with culture and history, so that’s naturally part of the process for me.
“It’s never just about what you see - it’s about what’s been there before, and what you feel while you’re in it.”
Where do you go when you need a bit of headspace?
“I love going to Ord Bay. It has special associations for me.
“There’s a great view of Blà Bheinn, and a good walk too - with some really interesting trees along the way. It’s a place I can return to again and again.”
Do you listen to anything while you paint — or is it just the elements?
“When I’m out sketching, I’m fully in nature - just absorbing everything around me.
“In the studio, though, I like to have music on. I often try to match it to the mood of the painting, which helps me settle into the work.”
What drew you to the colour palette you used to capture Taigh?
“These are very much my usual colours for the landscape around here.
“There’s a lot of orange and alizarin in the ground cover, with pinks and purples in the rocks and hills. And starting with an orange ground felt especially appropriate for a whisky distillery - it gave the piece a warmth right from the beginning.”
Any thoughts on the parallels between art and whisky?
“I hadn’t really thought about it before, but they both need time, don’t they?
“Time and care - and perhaps some kind of alchemy. That’s the mystery of the creative process.”
Like Taigh itself, Aileen’s work is rooted in place but shaped by feeling - an expression of landscape, memory, and the quiet details that make somewhere feel like home.
Welcome to the Torabhaig Way.
Watch and listen to Aileen at work below - a moment inside the making of Taigh.
