Meet the Artist

Hi! I’m Dorothy and I’m the artist behind Tràigh Alba.

Dorothy artist behind Tràigh Alba

Tràigh Alba means ‘Scotland beach’ in Gaelic, and it’s the beautiful wildness and endless variety of the Scottish coastline that inspires my collection of artworks.  Each picture is created with items I’ve carefully collected through beachcombing. Every piece is unique.


My pictures authentically reflect the special place they come from, mirroring the biology and geology of Scottish beaches. I work sustainably with shells, driftwood, sea glass, and sea pottery, presenting them unaltered to preserve their natural beauty. I’m intrigued by objects that are sea-worn and shaped by the ocean, and I aim to share my fascination with the strand line and the perfection of what I find there. I enjoy arranging and curating, composing with species, colour, and form to create visual interest.


I’ve made artworks featuring finds from all over Scotland, including Tiree, Islay, Arran, Skye, Harris, Lewis, Barra, Uists, Mull, Kintyre, Kilberry, Gigha, Gairloch, Ardnamurchan, Cromarty, Sutherland, Fife and Ayrshire. Each piece is labelled with a specific beach, island or area to signal its provenance.  In this way, I hope to capture some of the essence of the beaches that I love and connect people to places with meaning. Sometimes, I use finds from a few areas, bringing them together to create lovely blended pieces. 


Each picture arrives beautifully wrapped in tissue paper, ready for gift-giving or keeping. Given my passion for the natural environment, I use only biodegradable and recycled packaging materials.


I find joy in all aspects of making these artworks - beach combing, composing each picture, and sharing the finished pieces. Whether you are drawn to beaches, the sea and Scotland or just appreciate the colours and forms of these natural treasures, I hope you find something you love!
To learn more, follow me on Instagram @traighalba

FAQs

  • For single-species studies, I usually name the species, but for miscellany pieces (where items are presented in a grid that can have 144 shells or more!), I don’t routinely include this information. Just let me know if you would like more information about the species composition of any of my pieces. I have a series of posts on shell identification on my Instagram page.

  • I am not currently accepting commissions but I will communicate via Instagram if this changes.

  • All of my shipping is tracked. In the UK I post with Royal Mail tracked 48 and I use tracked international airmail to ship outside the UK. If you require urgent  delivery, let me know. I do not ship to EU countries due to legal restrictions on packaging. Other postal restrictions prevent shipping of shells - if your country is not in the list at checkout, I don’t ship there. International shipping can be subject to customs delay (though this is rare in my experience). Customers are responsible for any customs charges levied by destination countries.

  • No, all the material I use is as found on the shore, except for gentle cleaning if needed.

  • Yes. I prioritise the preservation of the marine ecosystems I visit and I collect only materials that are naturally washed onto the shore by the sea.  I comb the same beaches infrequently and take only small quantities of empty shells, focussing on common varieties and never harming any animals. When beach combing, I also pick up plastic/litter and dispose of it responsibly. In line with these policies, I only use recycled and biodegradable packaging materials.

  • Yes, I use material I personally collect on Scottish beaches. While tropical shells are very beautiful, purchasing or collecting them is often associated with conservation concerns. My mission is to showcase the beauty on our local beaches and to work sustainably with marine environments. I occasionally work with shells from elsewhere sent to me by friends, provided I am sure of their provenance and ethical collection.

  • Each picture comes wrapped simply in white acid free tissue paper, secured with a Traigh Alba logo sticker. I can include a gift card and message and send direct to the recipient - just add a note at checkout.