Steamer Dreaming cruise to benefit carers

Beautiful paintings, fine food and the very best of Scottish scenery – all will combine in May to benefit carers in North Argyll.

John Lowrie Morrison’s annual art exhibition aboard the MV Isle of Mull takes place on 8 May. The ‘Steamer Dreaming – From Oban to Tobermory and Iona’ cruise on board the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry is in its eighth year. The boat sails from Oban to Colonsay and back again to launch the exhibition and guests can view the paintings, admire the scenery and enjoy a sumptuous three-course dinner.

John, who signs his work as Jolomo, and his wife Maureen are Patrons of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which supports unpaid carers. Along with Caledonian MacBrayne and Kranenburg Fine Art, John will donate 10% of sales to The Princess Royal Trust North Argyll Carers Centre.

He will also be auctioning one of the paintings on view and guests will have the chance to win one of his prints in a raffle to be drawn on board the cruise. The funds raised from the auction and raffle, as well as the 10% from the sale of the paintings, will benefit the North Argyll Carers’ Centre, which supports unpaid carers who help relatives or friends who cannot manage otherwise because of frailty, illness, disability or addiction.

This year’s exhibition includes works of art such as Tug in Oban Bay; Edwardian Summer, Iona; Rain on The Waverley, North Pier, Oban; and King George V off Iona.

The paintings celebrate the beauty of western Scotland and the works of art are typical Jolomo style – the use of strong colour to express the light and a record of the impact of the human imprint on Argyll and the Isles.

John and Maureen are carers themselves and have generously supported the work of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers throughout Scotland for many years.

Although the social care charity Quarriers announced recently that it would be withdrawing from the carers’ service in North Argyll in June, a steering group has been set up to continue the Centre’s work to support the area’s army of unpaid carers.

Ruth Moody, Manager of the North Argyll Carers' Centre, said: “We are very grateful that Maureen and John have decided once more to support our work with unpaid carers in the North Argyll area. The annual exhibition is a wonderful idea, combining the beauty of John’s paintings with the cruise and I hope a lot of people come along to the launch.”

Tickets for the exhibition and cruise, which take place on 8 May, are available from Caledonian MacBrayne on 01475 650308.