Myths & Motifs: Wild Haggis and Nessie

Scottish folklore often occupies an unusual space between story, humour and belief. The Wild Haggis and Nessie are both examples of figures that are widely recognised, yet rarely treated in quite the same way twice. One is usually presented with a straight face despite being entirely improbable. The other remains just plausible enough to keep the conversation going. Both continue to survive because the stories are still worth telling.

Both designs rely on recognisable forms and familiar stories, with enough restraint to let the reference do the work.

The Wild Haggis

The design draws on a well-known Highland tale.

A small animal, adapted to the slope of the hills, with one side of its body longer than the other. The details vary depending on who is telling it.

The engraving reflects this idea directly. A compact, forward-facing form, with uneven legs set into the line of the ground. Beneath, the text follows an undulating path, echoing the terrain.

A compact composition built around one of Scotland’s better known tall tales.

Nessie

The Nessie design is quieter, using only the head and neck above the water with a distant boat in the background.

Below the image, the formal name Nessiteras rhombopteryx is included, followed by a single line: Nessie.

Glass and Format

Both designs are prepared for whisky tumblers.

The scale allows the detail to remain clear, while the proportions suit a single, contained engraving rather than a full wraparound.

Both designs use a single contained engraving, allowing the folklore reference to remain immediately recognisable without overworking the glass.