Holy Wells: Scotland

Author and photographer Phil Cope takes his camera on a journey through the sacred wells of Scotland from the Borders to the Orkney Islands. On his way he discovers wells in city centres and, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere – on mountainsides, in deserted valleys, on the coast, in sea caves. They include healing wells, cursing wells, and wells named for saints, Satan, witches, angels, fairies, friars, nuns, hermits, murderers and hangmen, even a well of the dead. His luscious and atmospheric photographs are accompanied by folk tales, myths and legends, conversations with well-keepers and poems inspired by Scottish wells.

Phil Cope is a photographer, writer, teacher, and cultural exhibition designer whose recent subjects have included the footballer John Charles, Paul Robeson and Wales and the Spanish Civil War.