Bell Rock Lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson. For over 150 years Stevenson and his descendants designed most of Scotland's lighthouses. Battling against the odds and the elements, the Stevensons constructed wonders of engineering that have withstood the test of time, an amazing historical achievement. Stevenson's talented family also included the famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson (his grandson). Visits with his family to remote lighthouses are thought to have inspired his books 'Kidnapped' and 'Treasure Island'. This painting featured on the jacket of the 'The Lighthouse Stevensons' (1999) by Bella Bathurst.