Ben Nevis: A Farewell Commission

This commission involved two whisky glasses engraved with a design of Ben Nevis, prepared as a formal farewell gift.

The pieces were presented to the Slovak Ambassador at the end of his diplomatic posting.

Reference and Context

The choice of Ben Nevis carried a specific reference.

During the Second World War, Czechoslovak soldiers trained in the surrounding landscape as part of the Special Operations Executive. Their presence in the area remains documented through memorials near Arisaig and along the west coast.

This context informed the selection of the design. Rather than acting as a generic Scottish landmark, Ben Nevis provided a direct geographical connection to a shared chapter of Scottish and Czechoslovak history, linking the gift to both place and occasion.

Preparation and Engraving

The mountain profile was prepared as a clean, balanced composition suited to the scale of a whisky glass.

Linework was refined to ensure clarity when engraved, with attention given to how the form would read when viewed through the glass. Each design was transferred to stencil and sandblasted to achieve a consistent etched depth.

Outcome

The finished glasses present a restrained interpretation of the landscape, prepared for formal presentation.

A place-led design, used to mark a defined moment.

A single landmark, chosen not only for its landscape but for the historical connection it represented.