A digital Reconstruction of St Blane's Chapel, near Kingarth at the south end of the Isle of Bute. The church occupies a Christian site active from the late 6th century to the Reformation. A monastery was founded here by St Catan and led by his nephew Blane (Old Irish Bláán) within the Columban monastic network. It flourished until the late 8th century, when the recorded deaths of abbots in 776 and 790 are often linked to Viking raids; the site was likely abandoned around 800 as Bute fell under Norse control. Although little survives from this first monastery, the upper churchyard wall probably follows the line of its enclosure. In the 12th century, once Bute had returned to Scottish rule, a new Romanesque parish church was built, reusing the old monastic enclosure as its graveyard. Most of the standing nave and the original chancel are 12th‑century work, with a rougher eastward extension added in the 14th century. St Blane’s remained in use into the 16th century, then gradually fell out of use after the Reformation and decayed to the remarkably complete ruin seen today.

Commissioned Work (September, 2019). Client: Historic Environment Scotland

Software / Tools

Blender 3D, Photoshop