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Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre

Featured collection: The Ewen Bain Angus Og Collection

Illustrated comic-style image showing a character reclining outdoors on grassy terrain with mountains in the background. The character is wearing black boots and blue trousers, holding a glass in one hand and a bottle labeled “DEW OF DRAMBEG 100%” in the other. At the top, large red text reads “ANGUS OG” with smaller text underneath saying “by EWEN BAIN.”

Angus Og, the wily highlander and his friends from the fictional Island of Drambeg in the Utter Hebrides were familiar faces to many folk across Scotland throughout the latter half of the 20th Century. The Angus Og cartoon series was created by cartoonist Ewen Bain and first appeared in the Bulletin before being published in the Daily Record from 1960 through to 1989. There were 158 Angus Og adventures, each made up of multiple beautifully drawn pen and ink cartoon strips.

A cartoon-style illustration of a character’s head with exaggerated features, including a long pointed nose and wide eyes. The character has black hair and a simple outline, drawn in a humorous style. Above the head, the word “IDEA!” is written in bold, uppercase black letters, suggesting a moment of inspiration or realization. The background is plain white, making the drawing and text stand out clearly.

The cartoons share stories inspired by contemporary events and explore how communities work, their creator demonstrates a strong understanding of universal human emotions and motivations. As such they are as relevant today as they ever were and explore issues such as the environment and climate change, social imbalances, impacts of tourism, language, culture and identity.

We are delighted to host the collection of original strips at our Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre and invite you to be part of the next adventure for Angus Og and friends!

The Og Blogs!

Read more about Angus Og and our full collection by clicking the tiles below. 

Illustrated cover featuring the title “ANGUS OG” in large red letters inside a white rectangular box with a blue border at the top. Below the title, three black silhouettes walk in a line from left to right, suggesting a family group. The first figure is tall and carries a handbag, followed by two smaller figures. On the right side, there is a simple drawing of a small thatched-roof cottage with a chimney, set against a pale yellow background. The signature “Bain” appears at the bottom right, indicating the artist Ewen Bain. The image represents the comic strip “Angus Og,” known for its humorous portrayal of life in the Scottish Highlands.

How a cartoon collection came home

Explore the story behind the return of Ewen Bain’s Angus Og cartoons to the Highlands and the preservation of this unique cultural collection.

Cartoon-style illustration showing two characters standing outdoors and looking at a wooden board with a large white sign pinned to it. The sign reads in bold, handwritten letters: “PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT at 7.30.” The background includes a small section of a purple sky and a hint of a mountain peak. The drawing uses simple lines and flat colors, typical of the Angus Og comic strip by Ewen Bain, which humorously depicted life in the Scottish Highlands.

Failte gu Drambeg: Welcome to Drambeg

Step into the fictional island of Drambeg and discover the characters, humour and Highland inspiration behind Ewen Bain’s beloved Angus Og cartoons.

Cartoon-style illustration showing a person wearing a black suit and bowler hat standing outdoors, facing a small white stone cottage with a thatched roof and a blue chimney. The cottage is surrounded by yellow grass, and the sky behind it is shaded in purple tones, suggesting dusk or an overcast day. The image is drawn in a humorous, simplified style typical of the Angus Og comic strip by Ewen Bain, which satirized life in the Scottish Highlands.

Angus Og by Professor Laurence Grove

Discover why Angus Og became a Scottish cultural icon, as Professor Laurence Grove reflects on Ewen Bain’s humour, artistry and enduring appeal.

Cartoon-style illustration showing a person reading a newspaper. The newspaper headline reads: “Sunday Mail – HOW OFTEN DO WE LIVE – CONTINUED.” Below the headline is a small black-and-white image of a bespectacled face. The background is mostly white with a purple section on the right. The drawing uses bold black outlines and simple colors, typical of the Angus Og comic strip by Ewen Bain, which humorously explored life and ideas in the Scottish Highlands.

The rebirth of Angus Og

Explore how the Angus Og Collection was celebrated in Skye, bringing together communities, artists and archive collections to honour Ewen Bain’s legacy.

Cartoon-style illustration showing a police officer in a dark uniform and checkered cap in the foreground, looking toward another figure in the distance who is wearing a black suit, hat and dog collar. The background features simple purple hills and a white sky with patches of blue, suggesting an outdoor Highland setting. The image is drawn in a humorous, minimalist style typical of the Angus Og comic strip by Ewen Bain, which satirized life in the Scottish Highlands.

Tìr nan Òg: the land of the young

Discover Tìr nan Òg: The Land of the Young and explore themes of youth, culture and island life through Ewen Bain’s celebrated Angus Og cartoons.

The Seer of Drambeg - Featured Cartoon

Share your stories

Do you remember Angus Og? Maybe it brings back happy memories of your parents or grandparents reading the paper? Tell us all about your memories or what you would like to see next from the collection using our short online survey or by emailing us. 

Angus Og online exhibition

Delve deeper into The Ewen Bain Angus Og Collection by exploring our online exhibition.

Donate to our Archives

The Archive Service preserves, conserves and makes accessible over 700 years of Highland history. There is no charge to visit our Archive Centres and access the collections we hold, but High Life Highland is a charity and we rely on your donations.