This year I was delighted and honoured to be asked to design the t-shirt for the 31st annual Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games! I had great fun working with the creative team for the Games to come up with a design to reflect the shared cultural heritage (both Texan and Scottish) of the attendees. The 2 designs we came up with for the front and back of the shirts are fun and lighthearted, using my illustration and hand-drawn fonts. They’ve never had a real Scot design the shirt before, so it was a ‘first’ all round!

The Famous Scottish Highland Games

An amazing 40,000 people attended the Games in Texas this year – It’s really impressive how much of a presence Scots and Scottish culture have over in the States. Highland Games season is just about to begin here in Scotland, so let’s take a look at what they actually involve.

Men in Kilts, Athletics, Pies, Dancing and much more…

Generally, the Highland Games festivals host a wide range of Scottish athletic competitions. Activities include the caber toss, the stone put, the sheaf toss and the weight throw – all of which involve launching a very heavy object as far as you can! Dancing is a big part of the Games and there are often National dance competitions and displays.

It’s a far from quiet event, where bagpipers and drummers create a lively atmosphere with performances. Not to forget, there’s always a huge selection of delicious Scottish food and ales. Tasty treats include haggis, fish & chips, meat pies, bridies and scotch eggs. There’s often whiskey tasting, and games and activities for children, too.

The Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon is the biggest of it’s kind in Scotland and is held every August. It attracts an amazing 3,500 competitors each year! It’s always a great day out for the whole family, so if you’re looking for a Highland Games festival to visit this summer, check out this link: https://www.shga.co.uk/events.php

If you have Scottish roots or you just simply love our wee country, my website has plenty of colourful, Scottish themed items for your home and as gift ideas for friends!