A weekend exploring Oban - a local’s guide

Meet your local guide

Lorna Freytag

Lorna Freytag is an artist and illustrator based in Oban on the west coast of Scotland. She grew up in Edinburgh and has lived and worked in New York, Sydney, London, Dubai and Glasgow before settling in Oban with her husband Daniel, their two children and their springer spaniel. She works from a studio overlooking Oban Bay, which still feels special every day. Her illustration work includes children’s picture books, magazines and commercial projects, but she is best known for her alphabet wall prints and large-scale paintings found in nurseries and playrooms around the world. Alongside that, she has recently begun creating mixed-media pieces using natural materials like pressed flowers. These are experimental one-offs made for exhibitions and private homes.

How long have you lived in Oban, and what brought you here?

I’ve lived in Oban for 12 years. After growing up in Edinburgh and spending time living in cities all over the world, my husband and I were ready for a slower pace of life to raise our kids. Daniel already had family here and remote working meant the move was actually doable. Oban just felt right, a place where we could work creatively, slow things down a bit and give our children the freedom to grow up surrounded by the sea, hills and fresh air.