For over forty years, the Pittenweem Arts Festival, has been one of the most unique and stunning art festivals, bringing colour to the beautiful nook of Fife. But as you will soon experience, Pittenweem, like all the other incredible wee coastal villages along the Eastern corner of Fife, from Earlsferry to Crail, is filled with colour in its own right! Therefore, we believe that it is now a great time for the Pittenweem Arts Festival to bring colour to the world – to all of you! So, put on some comfy shoes and follow our Golden canine tour guide team in-training, Walter and Arthur, as we go and explore Pittenweem and the 2024 Arts Festival!
Welcome to Pittenweem
The name of the village reveals its long history in Scotland because it derives from both Pictish and Scottish Gaelic. The prefix of ‘Pit” is from the Pictish language, meaning place, or a portion of land. The rest comes from Gaelic, ‘na h-Uaimh’ – (pronounced “enweem”), which translates to- “of the caves”. So, this “Place of the Caves” is – Pittenweem.
The cave that the town is named after is St. Fillan’s Cave located on Cove Wynd. Therefore, it’s appropriate to start our exploration of Pittenweem there. The cave dates to early medieval times and is named after a Saint- or maybe even two Saints. It is said to have been the cave that was dwelled in by a Scottish monk – St. Fillan of Pittenweem- in the sixth century. He mostly worked in Aberdour, and in fact, the ancient parish church there bears his name (you can see some pictures of it in our article about Aberdour Castle). His cave in Pittenweem has long been associated with the spring of ‘holy water’, thus, making it an important pitstop on the Fife Pilgrim Way on the journey towards St. Andrews.
As mentioned, there might even be a connection to another Saint – St. Fillan of Munster- a seventh century Irish monk who migrated to Scotland in the year 717. He is, however, more connected to Perthshire rather than Fife, but it would not come as a great surprise if he had also taken shelter in the cave during a pilgrimage.
Let’s step out of the cave and back to the sunny shores of this historic fishing village. Fishing, in fact, continues to be the major industry in Pittenweem, as it is still the busiest and most active fishing harbour along the East Neuk of Fife. Here are some great views of the mesmerising harbour of Pittenweem:
These views always bring the following song to mind. So here’s a wee musical break from history thanks to Skipinnish and their song, ‘Last of the Hunters’ –
The History of Pittenweem Arts Festival
Now, let’s get back to Pittenweem and the arts! Interestingly, both the history and fishing industry tie into the Pittenweem Arts Festival. Initially, in the 1960s, the village started celebrating its history and fishing with a ‘Gala’. This was a parade of beautifully decorated fishing boats which sailed into the harbour. Then, in the early 1980s, the ‘Gala’ morphed into an arts festival.
As stated on the Pittenweem Arts Festival website, (be sure to ‘bookmark’ it because it's a great source of information for you to start planning future visits to this fabulous event!):
“The Pittenweem Arts Festival was born from a simple idea: to transform the village's atmospheric spaces - from fishermen's cottages to historic buildings - into unique venues for art exhibitions and events. Since its inception in the early 1980s, the festival has grown exponentially, becoming a much-anticipated annual event. Each year, Pittenweem bursts into life, with artists and visitors from across the globe converging to celebrate the arts. The festival's success lies not only in its stunning exhibitions but also in its community setting and the shared passion for art that it fosters.”
For a while, the parade of various fishing vessels remained a part of the festival as a grand finale, but that has all changed nowadays. However, let me assure you that the history of the area, and the importance of fishing, are still reflected in the village, its kind and generous residents, businesses, and in so much of the stunning art displayed during the festival.
The Artists
Every year, the Pittenweem Arts Festival features a group of invited artists who are accomplished and well-known creators in various mediums. They often provide the main draw for spectators and admirers from across the globe. For example, artists like John Byrne and Alasdair. This year really showcases the calibre and diversity of artistry on display with five invited artists whose work ranges from textiles and quilts to sculptures and photographs. You can learn more about the invited artists on this webpage.
Beyond the invited artists, the festival consists of nearly 90 venues displaying the talents of over 140 artists! The list of artists includes many local artists to the East Neuk of Fife, but also many more from across Scotland and beyond. So, whether you are drawn to iconic urban landscapes (such as those depicted by Glasgow based Karin Hepburn at venue 23), or Claire Roche’s jewellery with a magical Scottish feel at venue 28, or Elin Isaksson’s Swedish glass art at venue 66 (just to highlight a few) – you will absolutely become entranced by the talent on display! See more on this webpage.
When you are visiting the festival, make sure to pick up a brochure that has all the information you need about the artists and venues (with a handy wee map). You can find the brochures at one of the booths as you enter the festival or at the Pittenweem Arts Festival offices located at 47 High St., Pittenweem.
For obvious copyright reasons, we can’t highlight the actual works of art, but we hope that you enjoy our photos from the festival. Because, after all, sometimes the location can be a work of art in its own right, and that certainly is the case for Pittenweem! So, enjoy the colours and the beauty of this village – it will do your soul some good. As for the artists, we should mention that you, the spectator, can also unleash your creative talents at the Pittenweem Arts Festival!
The Events
The Pittenweem Arts Festival is so much more than an idyllic setting to enjoy and appreciate art displayed across numerous venues. In fact, it’s a buzzing affair filled with events! What I mean by that is that during the festival there are a whole slew of daily events scheduled, including concerts, plays, artist talks, to storytelling and treasure hunts. So, it’s guaranteed that visitors of all ages will enjoy their time in Pittenweem.
As I previously alluded, you can also be the artist by participating in the various workshops and experiences during the festival. These workshops range from screen printing to stone sculpting, and so much more, and it's best for you to browse the events information on their webpage.
The Food
You most likely will have worked up an appetite once you take part in the organized treasure hunt for the kids or completed your own exploration of the venues. Well, I am happy to tell you that the food options around the village are just as wonderful as the works of art adorning every nook and cranny of the village. So be sure to make a whole day of your visit, and just keep refuelling so you can continue your explorations. We highly recommend a wee break by having some amazing ice cream by the harbour!😉
Planning Your Visit
Now that we have covered a bit of this fabulous event, it is time for us to wrap up our visit for this year and start planning for next year! Just a couple of quick notes when visiting – if you are arriving by car, please make sure to use the designated large parking area and respect the road closures around the village. You can also arrive to Pittenweem by public transport. You can find that information and more on their webpage.
Well, that’s it for our visit to Pittenweem Arts Festival 2024. Thank you to all the organisers, artists, residents, and other visitors! Our visit was nothing short of magical, and our Golden boys had an absolutely fantastic time meeting so many of you. We will be back next year – and we hope to see you all there too!
You can always join our virtual travels of Scotland by subscribing to and sharing our blog as it is our love letter to Scotland. And, of course, if you are ever in Edinburgh – make sure to book a historic and entertaining walking tour with us!
Until next time- Explore & Discover!
