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About Skara Home
All of us at SKARA know we continue a 5000 year old design legacy on these islands.
We are a collaboration of award-winning designers, all based in Orkney. Our name is drawn from Skara Brae, a perfectly preserved Neolithic village.
Our tiny archipelago of 20,000 people is at an Atlantic edge – a cutting edge. Here we are immersed in design that has survived wind, tide, politics and changing nationhood.
Today Orkney is a world-leading research hub for green energy innovation. SKARA, too, is proud to work with an environmental ethos – see our sustainability commitment.
These islands have never stood still and neither do we. Our products are inspired by the constant yet ephemeral qualities of nature.
Our Designers
Collectively we have studied, lived, travelled and worked through places as diverse as Papua New Guinea, New York, China, Bahrain and of course, Orkney.
We have island hearts, but between us our work has international appeal and been afforded national awards and recognition.
Kirsteen Stewart
Kirsteen designs vibrant homewares which are infused with her signature blend of vivid colours and bold graphics. Her mission is to brighten your life through colour and creativity.
Building on her experience from across the globe, including the fashion houses of New York and tech developers from China, her pieces are designed for life, offering sustainable options in simple shapes and high quality, practical fabrics. She wants you to bring a bright pop of personality or a riot of colour into your home with happiness and ease.
Leo Kerr
Leo Kerr and his team of highly skilled craftsmen are based in Burray, Orkney Isles.
Each Bespoke Mirror is individually created using the finest Scottish Hardwoods hand selected from local sustainable sawmills. The company is endorsed by the Guild of Master Craftsmen.
Leo Kerr Mirrors are a functional item adding light and space to a room, but also encapsulate the beauty of nature. Slices of home-grown hardwoods such as Elm, Ash, and Yew are hand selected and put on display to become unique works of art.
Kevin Gauld
Born, raised and educated in Orkney, Kevin has been working with wood ever since his childhood. Growing up, he could always be found in the family garden shed making wooden items. His hobby developed into his passion and at the age of 16 he launched his much-desired career.
He established The Orkney Furniture Maker in April of 2007 with the aim of producing traditional furniture as well as his own new designs. Kevin’s great-grandfather was also a furniture maker in Kirkwall before he left to serve in World War One and his grandfather was a boat builder on the island of Westray; working with wood is most certainly in his genes.
Stuart Sim
Stuart Sim grew up in Orkney, where he now lives and works.
He trained at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, and was awarded the Duncan of Drumfork Travelling Scholarship and the John Milne Purvis Award for Painting
After receiving the Elizabeth Greenshields Award, he worked in Paris. He then joined the BBC in London as a Scenic Artist/Designer, and then became a freelance artist for independent film studios.
He has exhibited at a number of galleries in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London and now lectures at Orkney College.
Robin Palmer
As a potter based in Kirkwall, Orkney, his work is influenced by the sea, sand and land of Northern Scotland.
Orkney is a highly creative location and Robin is looking forward to developing and changing his practice in these inspirational surroundings.
Robbie Thomson
Robbie Thomson is an Orcadian designer-maker working from his beautiful home in Holm, Orkney – which incidentally was a runner up in ‘Homes of the Year Scotland’ 2020.
He studied Three-Dimensional Design at Gray’s School of Art. After moving back to Orkney he became inspired by sourcing reclaimed materials & creatively turning them into desirable products. This includes innovative lights made from copper, stone and wood. Robbie is not unknown to use pieces off tractors, old pipes…. His unique pieces are almost all created from recycled material.
These islands have never stood still and neither do we. Our products are inspired by the constant yet ephemeral qualities of nature. We are rooted in the longevity of our heritage and the creative depth of our community. Our lovingly crafted, quality products bring you the very best of our Orkney spirit.
