Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities

Host organisation: Groam House Museum

Project title: Drawing the Threads: George Bain, Celtic Art and a Living Legacy

Project description

Groam House Museum is a small independent museum in Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, with nationally significant collections relating to Pictish sculpture and the work of artist, educator and Celtic art scholar George Bain (1881–1968). The George Bain Collection forms part of a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland.

In 2026, the Museum hosted a highly successful doctoral internship focused on reviewing and developing the interpretation of its permanent Pictish exhibition. This resulted in new interpretive research, recommendations for future development and a new guidebook. GHM would now like to build on this research-led approach by turning its attention to the other major strand of its Recognised Collection: George Bain.

Bain devoted much of his life to studying, analysing, drawing and teaching Celtic art. His work explored how complex designs found in early medieval manuscripts, metalwork and carved stones were constructed, and how understanding their underlying principles could enable them to be recreated and developed by others.

Groam House Museum already holds extensive material relating to Bain, has a dedicated George Bain website and has previously produced a short introductory booklet. However, there is an opportunity to revisit this material through contemporary research and produce a more substantial and engaging publication which explores why Bain, his methods and his legacy remain relevant, and why his collection is significant within the wider context of GHM's collections and identity.

The researcher will work with the George Bain Collection, archive, existing interpretation and previous publications to investigate Bain's life, work, ideas and creative legacy. Particular attention will be given to the relationship between Bain's work and the early medieval/Pictish material that inspired him, his methods of analysing and teaching design, and the continuing relevance of his work to artists, makers and audiences today.

The principal outcome will be the development of a new accessible public-facing publication about George Bain. Research undertaken for the publication will also help inform the future development of the Museum's standalone George Bain website and wider interpretation.

The successful researcher will have considerable scope to shape the themes and approach of the project according to their expertise and discoveries.

Outputs

The principal output will be a researched manuscript and content plan for a new public-facing George Bain publication, building upon and substantially developing GHM's existing introductory booklet.

The publication should be accessible to a general audience while grounded in robust research and should help readers understand not simply Bain's biography, but the significance of his work, methods, collection and continuing creative legacy.

Supporting outputs are expected to include:

  • research into Bain's life, work, teaching and creative practice using the Museum's collections, archive and relevant external sources;
  • identification and research of key objects, designs, archival material and images for inclusion in the publication;
  • development of the publication's structure, themes and narrative;
  • recommendations for illustration and visual presentation, including identification of copyright/reproduction requirements where relevant;
  • identification of material and stories that could also strengthen the Museum's standalone George Bain website;
  • recommendations for future interpretation and creative engagement arising from the research; and
  • delivery of a public lecture or talk at Groam House Museum presenting an aspect of the research undertaken during the placement.

Depending on the researcher's interests and expertise, the project could also incorporate creative or practice-based responses, particularly exploring the continuing relationship between Bain's work and contemporary art, craft, design and making.

The intention would be for the placement to leave GHM with a publication manuscript at an advanced stage from which the Museum can progress towards design and publication, rather than requiring the researcher themselves to undertake professional graphic design or print production.

In person/remote/hybrid

Hybrid.

We envisage the internship combining periods based at Groam House Museum in Rosemarkie with remote research, writing and content development.

Time at the Museum will allow the researcher to become familiar with the George Bain Collection, archives, existing exhibitions and interpretation, and to work directly with Museum staff and volunteers. Some collections-based research will necessarily require in-person access.

Research, writing and development work can be undertaken remotely where appropriate.

We are happy to work flexibly with the successful researcher to establish a pattern that supports both the project and their circumstances. This could involve an initial concentrated period at Groam House Museum followed by remote research and development, with further Museum visits at key stages.

Benefits to the researcher

The placement offers an opportunity to undertake substantive original research with a nationally significant museum collection and translate that research into tangible public outcomes.

The researcher will gain practical experience of collections and archival research, museum interpretation, accessible writing, publication development and communicating specialist research to non-academic audiences.

A particular strength of the placement is the opportunity to follow research beyond the academic research process: identifying stories and themes, selecting objects and images, considering audiences, developing a publication narrative and seeing how the resulting work can contribute to wider museum interpretation and digital engagement.

The proposed publication will provide a significant portfolio output, while the opportunity to deliver a public lecture will allow the researcher to develop experience of presenting specialist research to an interested general audience.

The project also offers opportunities to build networks across museum, heritage, academic and creative communities and to gain insight into the operation of a small independent museum.

Researchers from a wide range of Arts and Humanities disciplines could bring valuable perspectives. These might include art and design history, archaeology, medieval or Celtic studies, visual and material culture, heritage and museum studies, history of education, craft and making, illustration and other creative/practice-based research.

Prior specialist knowledge of George Bain is not required. We are particularly interested in a researcher who is curious about collections and interested in exploring how rigorous academic research can become meaningful and engaging public interpretation.

Key relationships

The researcher will work primarily with the Curator/Manager of Groam House Museum, who will provide day-to-day supervision, access to the collection and archive, and support in translating research into practical museum outputs.

They will also work with members of GHM's Collections & Exhibitions team and with the Manager's line manager, providing opportunities to discuss the wider significance, development and interpretation of the collection.

The researcher will have the opportunity to work with a board member, who has extensive knowledge of George Bain and organises GHM's annual George Bain Lecture, and to draw upon the knowledge of other Museum volunteers and individuals who have worked with the collection over many years.

Where relevant to the research, GHM can also facilitate introductions to external researchers, practitioners and collaborators, including artists whose creative practice and research provide a valuable contemporary perspective on Celtic art, manuscripts, materials and making.

The researcher may engage with contemporary artists and craftspeople, museum and heritage professionals, academic specialists, GHM visitors and local audiences.

As part of the placement, the researcher will also be encouraged to contribute to GHM's public programme, potentially delivering one of the Museum's lectures based on their research.

The placement therefore offers opportunities to build relationships across museum, academic, creative, craft and community networks, rather than undertaking the research in isolation.

Subject areas

This opportunity would be relevant to the following subject areas:

Prehistoric Archaeology; Archaeology of Literate Societies; Design; Visual Arts; Curating; Museum and Gallery Studies; Heritage Management; Art History; Cultural Studies and Pop Culture; Archives; Cultural History; Scottish Studies; Publishing; Celtic Studies; Aesthetics; History of Ideas.

Person specification

A1. Knowledge Base
  • Essential: Research methods – theoretical knowledge; Research methods – Practical application; Information Seeking; Information literacy and management; Academic literacy and numeracy.
  • Desirable: Subject knowledge.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
  • Essential: Analysing; Synthesising; Critical thinking; Problem Solving; Evaluating.
A3. Creativity
  • Essential: Inquiring minds; Intellectual insight; Argument construction.
  • Desirable: Innovation; Intellectual risk.
B1. Personal qualities
  • Essential: Enthusiasm; Perseverance; Integrity; Self-reflection; Responsibility.
  • Desirable: Self-confidence.
B2. Self management
  • Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Commitment to research; Time management; Responsiveness to change; Work-life balance.
B3. Professional & career development
  • Desirable: Responsiveness to opportunities; Networking.
C1. Professional conduct
  • Essential: Ethics, principles and sustainability; Respect and confidentiality; Appropriate practice; Attribution and co-authorship.
  • Desirable: Health and Safety; Legal requirements; IPR and copyright.  
C2. Research management
  • Essential: Research Strategy; Project planning and delivery.
  • Desirable: Risk management. 
C3. Finance, funding & resources
  • Desirable: Income and funding generation; Infrastructure and resources.
D1. Working with others
  • Essential: Collegiality; Team working; Collaboration; Equality and diversity.
  • Desirable: Influence and leadership. 
D2. Communication & dissemination
  • Essential: Communication methods.
  • Desirable: Communication media; Publication.
D3. Engagement & impact
  • Essential: Public Engagement; Society and culture.
  • Desirable: Teaching.

First published: 28 September 2026

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