Storytelling with Lizzie McDougall – Community Connections through Collecti

We are delighted to welcome storyteller and artist Lizzie McDougall back to Groam House for the first event in our new series Community Connections through Collections, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland.

This exciting programme features 13 storytelling sessions and creative workshops running from October through January. Each one is inspired by objects from our local history collection, using them as springboards for stories, crafts, and conversations. The aim is to bring the collection to life, showing how it connects to our lives today and continues to inspire creativity in our community.

About Lizzie McDougall
Lizzie’s storytelling style is deeply rooted in Highland folklore, myths, and legends. As both an artist and storyteller, she weaves words with visual arts, often incorporating quilts, paintings, and crafts into her sessions. Her work is immersive, interactive, and filled with joy, sparking wonder while celebrating cultural heritage.

She has worked with communities, schools, and museums across Scotland, and her projects include The Highland Story Quilts, Nairn Story Flags, and Memory Blankets. Lizzie’s passion is to share stories in ways that are meaningful, memorable, and deeply connected to place.

Lizzie says:
“I am delighted to be taking part in this inspiring project at Groam House. I am really enjoying engaging with the less well known objects in the museum’s collection and linking them to traditional stories, many of which I heard from Elizabeth Sutherland (Betty Marshal), founder of the museum. She was such a wonderful storyteller. I hope that people will enjoy the session on Oct 4 as much as I am enjoying preparing for it.”

The picture above was taken by Sunny Moodie

What to Expect

• A warm welcome at Groam House and brief introduction to the object(s) from our collection that inspired the session
• A storytelling journey with Lizzie, drawing on Highland folklore and myth
• A chance to connect with others and reflect on the power of stories in our lives today

This is the first in a series of 13 sessions and workshops that will take place on Saturdays from October through January. We hope you’ll join us for this special opening event — and return for more!