The eagle has landed… as graphics business comes to Forres high street

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed a new business on the high street.

Iolaire, which is Gaelic for ‘eagle’ has made a new nest at Gallery No 55, providing graphic design, colour printing, photocopying and photo restoration.

The business is owned by ex-RAF man Tez Watson, who has moved from his premises at Logie Steading, into the corner of the gallery and gift shop owned and run by Graham Cryer.

It’s a bit of déjà vu for the duo, as they formerly worked together when Graham had premises on St Catherine’s Road.

From Logie Steading

Tez said: “I was based at Logie Steading for almost six years which was a useful move from Harbour Street in Nairn. My wife Sandra and I had a small shop down by the harbour for seven years selling gifts, artists’ prints and me doing design work.

“Before Harbour Street, I had premises at Nairn railway station for two years and before that I was based in the Nicolson Building with Graham Cryer, so we go back a few years.”

Tez says it’s early days yet, but hopes the move into the high street might attract a bit more footfall, particularly with his offering complementing the mounting and framing service at Gallery No 55.”

Tez said: “The giclee printing, scanning and photographic elements dovetail quite neatly with mounting and framing, once the gallery opens more fully in a few weeks’ time we’re certain there’ll be another element to attract customers over the doorstep.”

Tez served as an avionics technician from 1976 until 1997 and worked on Jet Provost, Jaguar, Tornado and Nimrod aircraft with the bulk of his career was spent at RAF Kinloss.

He rejoined the RAF in 2017 and ran the Graphics Office at RAF Lossiemouth as a reservist, and has been back on a Typhoon squadron for the past two years.

Design and chat

And Tez invites anyone that isn’t sure whether he can help them, just to come in and have a chat.

“Sometimes people see the term graphic design and don’t really understand what that means or what I might be able to help with. I encourage them to come and chat to me, if I can help I will whether that’s directly or offering advice as to who else to approach.

“I’ve been designing since the late 70s and know lots of other businesses that do the things I can’t (usually through projects we’ve tackled together) so I’m happy to recommend such as printers, sign makers, mapping providers, industrial fabricators, etc.”

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