About Highland Tide Designs

Beachcombing turned business…

Hello, my name is Michelle and I am founder of Highland Tide Designs!

This wee hobby turned business is my sanctuary and I absolutely love creating unique designs for people to have in their homes or give as gifts. Each design I make is completely individual due to the nature of the natural materials used. I can get lost on a beach beachcombing for hours and just love it when I discover special pieces, from seaglass to shells, sea pottery, driftwood, pebbles, feathers and even seaweed!

In 2020, during the first lockdown I found myself on the local beaches of the west coast more and more with my water loving Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Beau, whittling away hours beachcombing. At the time I was back living in Gairloch, where I am originally from, and spending time on the beach searching for ‘treasure’ was my down time from my main work (I have a marketing/photography/events business called Snow Marketing), and a bit of escapism from what was going on in the world! But then it got to a point where there was only so many glass jars I could fill with seaglass and shells, so it was time to get creative!

I’m now back living in Inverness and am perfectly positioned to explore beaches right across the Highlands and Moray, and even further afield on the odd occasion…

Off the back of this wee hobby I found myself launching ‘Friends of Highland Tide Designs’ at The Storehouse of Foulis in March 2023…the shop now features over 60 makers from across Scotland as well as my own designs!

Designs can be purchased via my online shop, via selected Highland retailers, from Friends of Highland Tide Designs at The Storehouse or in person at various markets and events across Scotland, and I can also do commission designs on request, so if you have a specific beach you want pieces included from, or have a design in mind, or simply want to add some names/text to an existing design then please get in touch, I love a challenge!