You might notice that we have gone under some changes here, with our name, brand and concept. Whilst I put together our new website I thought I should start to introduce you to the new direction I am heading in and show you *some* of the new and exciting things I will have to offer. 

For the time being I will still be selling the last of our old Beò stock alongside the new project, but with the goal to eventually mostly be selling artwork, ceramics and home decor exclusively handmade by me, with a much smaller selection of our favourite local creators, as I do love to support local small businesses and creatives. 

I have spoken about creating and selling my own artwork for years, with almost a decade of my creative spark lying dormant due to a traumatic brain injury,  quickly followed by the most painful grief I could have imagined or feared.  

When part of my journey to find myself again involved moving 500 miles away from the pain and trauma, to my heart’s and my ancestral home in Scotland, I wanted to share my love for this Celtic Motherland. I wanted to create a business that tied in my love of home decor and design with Scottish craftsmanship, lifestyle, history, nature and lore – thus was born “House of Beò” of which this site was previously known as.

But this truly never felt authentic or enough for me, I am an artist at heart and I know this deeply (however hidden) but I had no part of me strong enough to make myself begin – I searched for hours and hours for things I wanted to collect and sell that resonated with what I believed in economically, artistically and aesthetically but rarely found exactly what I wanted – say for a few items I was lucky enough to get my hands on. Luckily you loved these items too, so I have a feeling we may be kindred spirits in this way, at least I hope…

And the reason this search, this obsession with finding the “right thing” was almost fruitless? Because it was not my voice or vision – that which has been a dead part of me for so long. 

So fast forward to a month ago, upon visiting my youngest brother’s memorial bench on Cullen beach, Moray, Scotland. This day was particularly crushing for me, for many reasons (no need to embellish upon here) but walking down to the shoreline, over the rock pools and across the golden/pink sand reflecting the sunset, I saw it, like a beacon of light.

My heart began to beat faster and faster – a tiny, perfectly formed piece of seaweed, which might not mean anything to anyone, but it did to me. It looked too perfect to be real, manmade – AI created? But no, this was real, a  microcosm of life itself in my hand – almost like a tiny perfect tree with with tiny pathways, grooves and history running all over it. 

I picked it up and it felt alive in my hand, I couldn’t stop staring at it, touching it. It vibrated with inspiration and I felt years of my shadow self fall away.

I had my logo, I had my name for my artwork and I had all these ideas at once for creations. I came home and started to work as soon as I could, and I haven’t stopped since – I don’t think I can stop, and I certainly don’t want to!

His name is Jacob by the way, my brother. I know he pushed me that day to begin, to give rhythm to the dried vessels in my slow beating heart again. You will find moments and memories of him in everything I create, and I hope I can help others who suffer from grief and mental illness as I do. 

And so I guess it’s finally time to start sharing … my heart, my most vulnerable expressions to date,

Welcome to H AA R  

Artwork & Ceramics inspired by the shores of Aberdeenshire & Moray

The misty lochs of the west of coast of Scotland

& A raw, ongoing journey through grief, rebirth and discovery.

Thank you for reading this should you have lasted until the end.

I have so much to show you, stay tuned.

– Anna