Centred Scotland is one of the charities being supported by fundraising at the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards 2026.

The charity is running an online auction of unique pieces of art to raise funds for its services across the Highlands.

For the project, entitled Art in Mind, it asked professional artists, an MSP and service users to convey their feelings of mental ill-health using seven blank mannequins.

Completed works featured in the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Highland in Inverness during September and October.

A selection could also be viewed at Thurso Art Gallery in November.

Online bids are now being accepted for a chance to own these one-off pieces with all funds raised going to support Centred’s Discovery College which offers free drop-in support for people struggling with mental ill-health throughout the Highlands.

Visit here for information.

Renowned Black Isle-based pop surrealist Michael Forbes created the first piece and other Highland artists Rona Kant and Lisa Poulsen also produced personal works.

Other mannequins are the work of MSP Emma Roddick; Monette Walker, a drop-in peer supporter at Centred’s Discovery College in Inverness; staff and users at the Discovery College and young artists, staff, parents and carers at Room 13 Studios in Caol.

Centred provides mental health support for people across the Highlands, including at the Discovery College in the Eastgate Centre in Inverness and in The Wellington Centre in Wick which are the first of their kind.

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