creative insights logo - white background with black text that reads creative insights and UHI North, West and Hebrides

Creative Insights explores the creative process through conversations and performances with artists from across the Highlands & Islands.

Each episode is a collaboration between our creative arts students and local creatives, offering real-world experience in filming, sound, and production.

S2 Episode 1 | Philip Paris

In the first episode of series 2, Philip Paris talks about his journey as an award-winning writer and author based in the Highlands. He discusses his approach to crafting compelling narratives across historical fiction, non-fiction, and contemporary novels, sharing how he uncovers the deep-rooted inspiration behind his stories.

Throughout the conversation, Philip explores the creative writing process and the unique research required to bring history to life, from his acclaimed work on Orkney’s Italian Chapel to his Waterstones’ 2024 Scottish Book of the Year, The Last Witch of Scotland. Filmed in front of a live studio audience at our Alness campus, he reflects on tackling complex themes in his work and offers practical tips, guidance, and encouragement for anyone looking to step into the world of creative writing.

S1 Episode 3 | Simon Bradley

In this episode of Creative Insights, Simon Bradley reflects on his journey as a fiddle player and composer whose career has taken him from early classical training to Celtic and traditional music across Ireland, Scotland, and northern Spain.

Simon discusses how his musical interests developed from childhood lessons in Manchester to a lifelong passion for traditional styles, and how experiences of place, people, and performance have shaped the tunes he writes. He performs three original pieces, each written for a different moment and context, from the exuberance of student life in Edinburgh to music inspired by social events and cultural exchange.

S1 Episode 2 | Liam Ross

In this episode of Creative Insights, Liam Ross shares his journey as a finger-style guitarist and songwriter based in Easter Ross. He talks about finding his own musical identity, moving beyond technique to focus on emotion, and how his writing often draws inspiration from the places and people around him.

Liam performs pieces from across his career, including works inspired by abandoned Highland landscapes and new material linked to family stories and the Black Isle. Between performances, he reflects on creative growth, confidence, and learning to “use the difficulty” when things don’t go as planned.

S1 Episode 1 | Teya-Jean Bawden

In the first episode of Creative Insights, Teya-Jean Bawden talks about her journey as a songwriter and performer based in the Highlands. She discusses how her approach to writing has developed over time and performs three original songs that reflect different stages in her creative life.

Throughout the conversation, Teya-Jean and host Peter Noble explore themes of change, reflection, and the way songs can grow alongside the artist. From revisiting older material to experimenting with new techniques, she offers a grounded look at how personal experience shapes creative expression.