Oil & Vinegar Inverness is throwing down a small challenge to the Highlands’ artists – quite literally.
As part of the inaugural Inverness Fringe Festival, taking place from 28 September to 4 October 2026, the Union Street shop is creating an unusual public art exhibition in which every work must fit inside a standard CD case.
Provisionally titled The Little Picture, the exhibition will transform a large wall inside Oil & Vinegar Inverness into a mosaic of miniature original artworks – and anyone can apply to be part of it.
Professional artists, enthusiastic amateurs, students, occasional doodlers and people who have never exhibited anything before are all invited to submit work.
There’s no prescribed theme and almost any medium is welcome – painting, drawing, photography, print, collage, textiles, digital art or mixed media – provided the finished piece fits within the exhibition’s CD-sized format.
Each artist may submit up to three pieces for consideration.
Paul Haigh of Oil & Vinegar Inverness, said, “We wanted to do something for the Fringe that genuinely involved people rather than simply putting something on for them to look at. The CD format gives everyone exactly the same tiny space to work with. What they do inside it is entirely up to them. We could end up with established artists hanging next to someone exhibiting their first ever picture – and I rather like that idea.”
All exhibited works will be available to buy, with a maximum selling price of £100, making the exhibition as accessible to would-be collectors as it is to artists.
Oil & Vinegar will take no gallery commission, meaning the full sale price will go to the artist.
There is no entry fee.
Submissions will be curated, both to maintain the standard of the exhibition and because the work will be displayed in a public, family-friendly retail space. Selection will be based on the work itself rather than the artist’s experience or exhibition history.
Paul added, “We’re not particularly interested in whether somebody has an impressive artistic CV. If it’s interesting, beautiful, funny, strange, clever or simply makes us stop and look at it, we’d like to see it. The only real limitation is size. Sometimes having less room gives you more room to think.”
HOW TO ENTER
Artists may submit a maximum of three works for consideration.
For each submission please provide:
• A clear photograph or digital image of the work
• Artist’s name
• Title of the work
• Medium
• Selling price (maximum £100)
• Contact email and telephone number
• Optional short artist’s note
Full T&Cs on request from art@shennachie.co.uk.
Closing date for submissions: Tuesday 15 September 2026.
Selected artists will be contacted shortly afterwards with arrangements for delivery of their work.
The exhibition will take place at Oil & Vinegar Inverness, Union Street, Inverness, during Inverness Fringe Festival, 28 September–4 October 2026.
Submission details: art@shennachie.co.uk.
Further information contact Paul Haigh at 01463 240073.