Donna Betts-McNaughten, PhD, FSAScot, a volunteer at Groam House Museum, is developing a series of paintings based on carved stones from the Highland Pictish Trail. Donna enjoys teaching others about the Picts and is using her art to promote Groam House and all the sites along the Highland Pictish Trail. While creating her artwork, Donna turned to the Highland Pictish Trail website, as a source of information and inspiration so we were delighted to invite her to tell us more about her work.
As a descendant of Scottish Gaelic speakers who emigrated to Canada in the 19th century, Donna’s artwork connects her to the past and the Picts’ fascinating legacy. Some believe Pictish carved stones may have originally included colour, so Donna’s images are based on her own interpretations, bringing the stones to life with imagined colours.
Donna is donating her original artwork to Groam House as 5 by 7-inch greeting cards painted on high-quality watercolour paper. These beautiful, unique pieces will be available for purchase at Groam House during a special event on November 24th, 2026. Keep an eye on their website and social media for forthcoming details.
Six of the vibrant Pictish carved stone paintings have been printed as 5 by 7-inch greeting cards, and as postcards (sold as a set of six). All are available for purchase in the Groam House gift shop. The first set of cards includes: the Ardross Wolf and Stittenham Beast Head stones, the Dunrobin 1 stone, Golspie stone, the Knocknagael Boar, and the Rosemarkie Stone. While the museum loves to host visitors, for those who cannot easily travel to the Black Isle, the printed greeting cards and the set of postcards can be ordered from the shop and shipped within the UK – contact shop@groamhouse.org for more information.
Groam House is an award-winning, independent museum of Pictish art and local history in the seaside village of Rosemarkie on the Black Isle. The museum is situated on what would have been part of an important early Christian monastery enclosure 1250 years ago. Groam House features the magnificent 2.6m high Rosemarkie cross-slab, an 8th century sculpted stone elaborately carved with enigmatic Pictish symbols and Christian crosses. It is one of the most impressive and important stones on the Highland Pictish Trail, signifying the relevance of Rosemarkie as an early Christian site.
The nationally significant collection of works by Celtic Art teacher George Bain (1881-1968) is also in the care of Groam House, and a local history collection consisting of photographs, documents and a treasure trove of archaeological finds dating from prehistoric times to the 1800s is also featured at the museum. Groam House Museum aims to inspire engagement, wonder, and enjoyment in the region’s heritage, and to continue developing the culture and creativity it has fostered.
Paintings representing additional stones from the Highland Pictish Trail will be available as printed cards in 2027. This exciting collection will include original paintings of Pictish stones from the Trail such as Applecross, Clach Biorach, Conan, Skinnet, Ulbster and more!
If you’re inspired by the Picts and want to learn more about their enigmatic carved stones, important religious sites, hillforts set on towering hills and ridges, detailed jewellery and sculpture cared for in local museums, carve out some time to explore! You can follow the Highland Pictish Trail by car, on public transport, by bike or in some cases on foot. Visit our itineraries section for more inspiration!