The Grantown-on-Spey storytellers

Prepare to be amazed just how delicately Allan Grant can wield a chainsaw. Watch his story, Chainsaw master

Allan Grant from Nethy Bridge found his artistic side when he wanted something to do to pass boring lunch breaks while working as a tree surgeon. Armed with a chainsaw and plenty of timber he became a petrol-powered sculptor.

Karen McLeod was behind the camera for their video (watch it online here) in which Allan demonstrates his skills as a prize-winning carver.

Karen had never filmed anything before but grasped what she needed to do with just one day's training. When the Highland Lives team complimented her on what she'd recorded, she was bashful. "I just did what you told me to do: get simple, steady shots with as much variety as possible."

Also from Grantown-on-Spey

Jen Tiller made a video about the community centre where she works, so had plenty of people to help her with the filming. Some how she was still left holding the vacuum cleaner. Seeing how the edit process turned separate parts into an enjoyable three minutes was a highlight for her. Watch Heart of a community.

Joyce Lindsay is born and bred in Grantown-on-Spey, so was a natural choice to present an audio slideshow tour of its hidden history. She remembers when the 'silver bridgie' really was silver and when the Spey had a beach large enough for the whole town to bathe from. Watch A walk down memory lane.

Fiona Gallacher travelled from Dundee to the Highland village of Garve to meet a family friend who knows the area, and its deer, extremely well. She knew a bit about digital storytelling but still picked up hints on good recording techniques from the BBC Highland Lives team sharing their own triumphs and disasters. Watch Deer in the Highlands.

George Bain is surrounded by tradition and history at the Speyside distillery where he's worked for years. Time is key to the process but even so, it's a fast moving industry. Watch Mellow drammer.

Other Highland Lives locations

Click around the map (upper right) or read about the Highland Lifers who took part in: Alness | Brora | Fort William | Inverness | Thurso