The Ferry Stores, Kilchoan, in April (L.E. Print)

Epson UltraChrome pigment inks on archival matte paper (192 gsm); in a frame with real miniature glass.

Width: 90 mm (3 9/16 in), height: 66 mm (2 5/8 in), depth: 8 mm (5/16 in).

Suitable for 1/12th scale dolls' houses.

This is a specially commissioned miniature giclée print, offered in a limited edition of 500 and made from an original miniature watercolour painting by Jenny Chapman. It is the first in a series of limited edition prints specially commissioned by The Ferry Stores, Kilchoan, the most westerly village shop and Post Office on the British mainland.

The making of this picture is discussed in the Artist’s Journal entry for 24th April 2009.

This print is only available to buy direct from MacAvon Miniatures or from The Ferry Stores, Kilchoan.

The Ferry Stores lies almost on the shore of the Sound of Mull (which is just a few yards behind the viewer in this picture), at the western end of the village of Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the West Highlands of Scotland. It is the only shop and Post Office within 30 miles or more (by land) and it provides a vital service to both residents and visitors. It even has a tiny petrol station, which will appear in a later image in this series.

In this image the main building on the left is the original Ferry Stores, which is now the residence of the current proprietors, who maintain the many tubs and pots of colourful flowering plants along the roadside. The shop itself, containing the tiny Post Office, is now housed in a newer single-storey building to the right. The entrance to the shop can be seen under the familiar Post Office sign.

This first image in the specially commissioned “The Ferry Stores” series shows the scene on a sunny day in early April. The hill behind has not yet started greening up and looks black and brown in parts with last year’s dried heather and bracken. But there are colourful spring flowers in the tubs, and the sun is now strong enough to cast clear shadows on the walls.

The print is presented in a special resin moulded frame made by artisan Dave Williams to his own design and painted antique gold. It has real miniature glass and is ready to hang, complete with a gold-plated chain.

Each print is numbered and signed both on the back of the print (not visible when framed) and on the archival quality backing board where a signed certificate of authenticity is attached.

This print is a collectors’ item intended for collectors of miniatures and for dolls house enthusiasts. It is not a toy and is not intended for children.