Above: Bernard's isolated home on Fraoch-Eilean
The highly talented, but little known designer of the early 1960's, Michael Bernard ('Bernie' to his friends) has spent a large part of his life on Fraoch-Eilean, the smallest of the Outer Hebridian Islands (population 55).
Bernie moved away from London in 1969 after completing work on his book A Life in Colour. It was to be the definitive work on the theory and emotional value of colour in design. However, due to a fire at his publishers Hamish Hamilton, the manuscript was destroyed and Bernie was unable to locate his only carbon copy. It had taken him seven years to write.
This event was a catastrophic blow for Bernie, he descended into a deep depression and became disillusioned with the creative world. He travelled to India and then on to Tibet, finally ending up in Scotland.
Above Bernie's caravan home at the Findhorn Community
Living at the Findhorn Community he became close friends of founders Peter and Eileen Caddy. While there he helped build some of the very early eco houses, and in the process, rediscovered his love of colour. An unconventional figure – he was a vegan, committed naturist and an experimenter and advocate of mind altering substances - he started to teach conceptual colour theory and analysis during his stay at Findhorn.
Bernie (far right) with naturist friends in Scotland
Bernie left the Findhorn Community in 1979 after 2 failed relationships. He finally settled on the beautiful Island of Fraoch-Eilean where he has remained ever since, leading an almost monastic life.
I had the privilege of meeting him earlier this year when I was visiting the Outer Hebrides, he allowed me to make a series of short recordings. Now in his late 70’s he felt it time to share some of his inspiring wisdom, to help make us all more thoughtful and sympathetic designers in these challenging times.
Bernie today, still a sensationally colourful figure