Saint Columba’s Return

1500 × 3000 Acrylic on Canvas

Glasgow Herald article

October 29th 2026

Iona residents have written to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao with an unusual offer: to lend it a stunning painting of Saint Columba, sailing home to the birthplace of Scottish Christianity beneath one of Iberdrola's proposed wind turbines.

Finlay MacDonald, a member of the Hebridean Horizon campaign, which is opposing MachairWind, an offshore wind farm proposed for a site covering around 450 square kilometres and touching within 13 miles of Iona, described it as “an epic painting, three metres wide”.

“We want to offer it to the Guggenheim and we’re trying to get the Spaniards to notice that there is a problem with what they are doing here by building these turbines here in Scotland.”

Artist David Page said: “Iona is calling for St Columba to come back because it needs it. You will clearly see the wind farm, from the Abbey, when you arrive in Fionnphort. You'll be able to see it all over the island.”

By offering the painting to the Guggenheim Bilbao, they hope to send a message to the gallery’s strategic sponsor, Iberdrola, owner of Scottish Power Renewables, which is the developer behind the MachairWind offshore wind farm, over the impact turbines will have on the heritage landscape.

We know it's a long shot," said a spokesperson for Hebridean Horizons. "But Iberdrola is very proud of its commitment to art and culture in Bilbao. We'd simply like it to show the same respect for ours."

St Columba's Return, by Mull-based artist David Page, shows St Columba, summoned back across fifteen centuries, driving his currach through the waves beneath turbine 91, one of at least 91 turbines proposed for MachairWind, each taller than the Eiffel Tower.

Page explains the thinking behind the piece: "A friend gave us the name Iron Horizon, and that horizon to the south is where Columba came from. This painting is about summoning Saint Columba back on his currach. He's basically sailing underneath turbine 91 back to his home."

The Scottish Government's own heritage body has already objected to the project.

In a 44-page formal submission, Historic EnvironmentScotland (HES), in its objection, describes the views south from the monastery, which look towards where Columba arrived from Ireland, as "laden with deep historical significance and religious meaning."

The body also describes Iona as one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe, saying, "As the birthplace of Scottish Christianity, it holds an iconic place in the national story and consciousness."

It notes that turbines would be visible in their entirety for most of the ferry crossing that pilgrims have made since the early Middle Ages.

The development would, HES concludes, fundamentally alter the monastery's sense of remoteness, and the agency has formally objected on the grounds of its impact on Iona Abbey and the monastic settlement Columba founded.

Argyll and Bute Council, the National Trust for Scotland, RSPB and the island community councils of Iona, Mull, Islay, Colonsay, Tiree and Gigha have also objected to the wind farm, along with 4819 objections submitted through the public objection platform and more than 10,000 petition signatures.

NatureScot advised Ministers that, due to its sensitive location, the adverse effects of MachairWind “would not be feasibly overcome by siting, design or other mitigation”.

But those objecting to it frequently say that they support renewable energy.

David Page said: "We understand why we need wind power. But this island is special. World special. And it just can't be here."

A Hebridean Horizons spokesperson added: "Nobody in this campaign is anti-wind. On small islands we live with the reality of climate change, and have worked our guts out to create our own clean energy.

“However, some places carry a weight that must be respected, and the seas off Iona are one of them. This painting says in one image what we've been trying to say in thousands of submissions. Iona is not the place for this.”

The decision over MachairWind’s application for consent from Marine Scotland rests currently with Scottish ministers.

A ScottishPower Renewables spokesperson said: "MachairWind is a vital green energy project that will deliver more clean power to the grid, strengthen the UK’s energy security and help drive economic growth. The site was identified as part of the Scottish Government’s Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy.

"Our consent submission is currently being considered by the Scottish Government.”