Orkney-based jewellery designer Sheila Fleet says she has taken inspiration from viewing the unspoiled beaches along the north coast of Caithness and Sutherland.

Having travelled over the Pentland Firth for the first time in two years, Sheila is showcasing her latest collection at John O'Groats this weekend. She is looking forward to "meeting and greeting" the public at the Groatie Buckie Gift Shop from Friday through to Sunday.

She took a journey along the north coast as far as Bettyhill this week and said: “I have to say you've got some of the most wonderful beaches. It has been an inspirational trip and that will maybe filter into the next collection."

Sheila, whose workshop is at Tankerness, had been coming to John O'Groats annually for 20 years until the interruption brought about by Covid-19.

"It's very special, after two years, managing to get over the firth," she said. "It's great to be back.

“We just thought we've really all got to get going again and make things as normal as possible.

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“We are launching a new collection called Honeybee and we also have a very lovely collection of gold rings and a ring called Cosmos which is brand new. So we have lots of new rings as well as jewellery.

“I'm looking forward to meeting and greeting people and showing them the new collection.

“It's quite a large collection and it's a fun collection – we've got something for everybody, from fairly low price ranges right up to the diamond rings. We've been looking forward to coming over and seeing what's happening in John O'Groats.”

Sheila added: "All my jewellery is designed and made in Orkney. I've been making jewellery for 30 years in my own business, and over 50 years altogether in my lifetime."

On Saturday and Sunday, Thurso-based author Colin Sinclair will be signing copies of his newly published children's book The Adventures of Johnny Groat – The Discovery.

• Sheila Fleet will be at the Groatie Buckie Gift Shop at John O’Groats from Friday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm daily.

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