To celebrate ten years of National Lottery involvement in village halls and healthy living centres throughout Scotland, the Big lottery fund and Hamlyns Oats invited communities throughout Scotland to take part in the Great Scottish Healthy Big Brunch. More than two and a half thousand people in over 28 community centres brought their favourite healthy oatmeal dishes along to share.

To commemorate the occasion and share some of the best recipes from that day ‘The Porridge Drawer’ book was produced. The title comes from traditional method of preserving porridge by storing the mixture in a wooden porridge drawer, from the drawer the porridge could be eaten over several days.

The book design takes inspiration from Scottish traditions and myths that surround oats and oatmeal. Everything from the screen printed hessian bag containing the book to the traditional woodcut illustrations used throughout the book hint at Scotlands long history with oats. The unique double parallel folded cover opens to reveal an illustrative pattern containing everything from oats, seeds, spoons and spurtles.

Woodcut illustrations by Derick Carss. 

Cover printed on GF Smith Colorplan Nubuck Brown.