Gaut Bjornson was born on Coll sometime in the 10th. century. He and Thor Bjorn (the first stone `picturemaker') worked as Master Sculptors on the Isle of Man almost contemporaneously between 990 and 1050.
The Isle of Man had been christianised by Irish missionaries during the latter part of the 5th. century at which time Coll had been part of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles. By the 9th. century, this whole kingdom had been overrun by the Vikings and the later memorial crosses erected on the Isle of Man clearly show both Norse and Celtic influences.
One such cross bears the inscription "Gaut made this, son of Bjorn from Kolli" ('Kolli' being identified as the Isle of Coll). Although only two stones bore his name, his style was sufficiently distinctive and robust to enable others to be attributed to him. Indeed, the above inscription goes on to claim that "Gaut made (this) and all in Man" and his work was later copied and developed so that his influence lived on in the artistic tradition that he had re-introduced.
On which beach on Coll did little Gaut scratch his first runes and symbols? Did his mother get him to decorate the family's leather tunics? Did his father really think art school was a good idea?
Whatever, there in the church of Kirk Michael on the Isle of Man to this day is one of the earliest Celtic-Viking crosses carved in interlaced pattern by 10th. century Master Sculptor - and Collach - Gaut Bjornson. Not a lot of people know that.