Blue Noun

Blue Noun Scottish experiences built around real English conversation. Helping your words come out — not through more rules, but through feeling at ease when you speak.

As part of Crieff's "Your Crieff Your Voice" Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan process, we would like to invite...
03/09/2026

As part of Crieff's "Your Crieff Your Voice" Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan process, we would like to invite you to the Have Your Say Day on Saturday 12th September at Strathearn Community Campus.



The aim is to bring people from across Crieff together for a big conversation about the future of our town. It is an opportunity to share your ideas, hear what other people think and discuss what matters most to you about Crieff and what you would like to see change, improve or develop over the next 5–10 years.

There will be two identical sessions:

10am–12 noon
1pm–3pm

You only need to attend one session, but we ask that you stay for the full two hours so that you can take part in the discussions.



Everyone is welcome and we would particularly encourage you to come along even if you have already completed the community survey. The survey gives us a broad picture of people’s views, but the Have Your Say Day gives us the opportunity to explore those ideas in more detail, hear different perspectives and start thinking about how we can work together to take ideas forward.

Today saw me back under the DJCAD roof for the Masters Show. It was strange being back, like the time I returned to my o...
29/08/2026

Today saw me back under the DJCAD roof for the Masters Show.

It was strange being back, like the time I returned to my old primary school to vote, and all the desks had shrunk.

Dundee College of Art used to seem massive and hallowed. (I’ll post later about some of the work we saw and artists we met -I have a few favourites). This post is just about standing in the Cooper Gallery again, and walking through my old studio and feeling the energy of being in a building designed for creativity. While it isn’t massive or hallowed at all, it’s still an extraordinary bastion of possibilities, conversations and one of few places where I never had try to fit in. It’s designed for people like me. And I’d forgotten how good that feels.

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and Architecture

A couple of years ago, I wrote “climb 12 Munros” on my New Year’s resolutions.I climbed none.This year, something has ch...
27/08/2026

A couple of years ago, I wrote “climb 12 Munros” on my New Year’s resolutions.

I climbed none.

This year, something has changed.

In the last couple of weeks I’ve climbed Schiehallion and Ben Chonzie — by myself, map and compass in hand.

I’ve been doing weekly yoga, which has made me stronger (and helped my achy hip). I’ve started volunteering as a trustee for a local walking festival, where I’m constantly surrounded by people talking about mountains and routes.

And I stopped telling myself I *should* climb 12 Munros.

The biggest difference?

Now I actually want to.

I woke up excited to climb them. I’m already eyeing up where to go next.

It’s made me think about something I see with English too.

“Improve my English” can become another thing on the should-do list.

Sometimes progress starts somewhere less obvious: feeling comfortable again, finding the right people, changing the conditions around you, or simply working out a route that makes you want to get moving.

That’s a big part of what we explore at Blue Noun — both on my English holidays and in my one-off Review & Revive sessions.

Not just where you want to get to.

How you might actually enjoy getting there.

It’s like my car had babies. 🚙🚙🚙
23/08/2026

It’s like my car had babies. 🚙🚙🚙

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱.I take my language holiday guests to their homestay hosts...
19/08/2026

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱.

I take my language holiday guests to their homestay hosts (often after exploring parts of Scotland on the way), and we step inside. I introduce them, and then I leave.

Over the years, I became curious about these first moments.

By this point, guests have met me (and have a taste of how I share language and help people feel comfortable talking), they have seen that Blue Noun is a real and beautiful space, and they have finally stopped travelling and started settling in.

Once you can finally relax, what is the very first thing you do?

The answers are wonderfully varied.
Through them, I learn how someone settles and what they want more of.

Just enjoyed the work of 40+ printmakers at Stirling University. It’s quite hard not to be overwhelmed by all the talent...
16/08/2026

Just enjoyed the work of 40+ printmakers at Stirling University. It’s quite hard not to be overwhelmed by all the talent, as I could have spent half an hour with most stalls and artists - but the busyness of the show makes that impossible. Probably to the relief of the artists, it’s a hard gig doing an art fair!
So much great printmaking on show. A few artists I already know and many new ones to discover.

I didn’t have an overall favourite, but I could have filled a few walls with landscapes and birds.
Settled for a little early Christmas shopping!

thingstodoinstirling

Today is your last chance to see the exhibition:She Wears Her Heritage Like a Crown – A Tribute to All Women at Blue Nou...
15/08/2026

Today is your last chance to see the exhibition:

She Wears Her Heritage Like a Crown – A Tribute to All Women at Blue Noun (for the Crieff arts Festival).

We’re open 11-4 pm.

Pop in and see the show!

12/08/2026

14 portraits, 14 easels, and Blue Noun Language Hub becomes an exhibition space.
A little stop-motion glimpse of us installing She Wears Her Heritage Like a Crown – A Tribute to All Women for Crieff Arts Festival.
Photographed by Patrycja Mikołowska and organised by Renata Fraser and Sylwia Krużyńska, the exhibition celebrates Slavic women, heritage and the confidence to be visibly yourself.
It feels very at home inside a language hub.
The exhibition is free to visit at Blue Noun, 11am–4pm daily throughout the festival. Come in and see the finished show.

10/08/2026

This quick video shows Alpine Effects AKA John McCulloch, installing his work in Blue Noun, as a fringe event in the Crieff Arts Festival.

John makes custom-built guitar pedals that look like sculptures (but sound great).

Crieff Arts Festival runs 9th to 15th August, for the run-up to the Crieff Highland Games.

John’s work is on show at Blue Noun 11-4 pm daily.

Do come in and see us.

Follow John at

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Crieff

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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+441764654377

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