Wasps Open Studios Dundee

If you want to feel inspired come along to Wasps Open Studios in Dundee on the 26th & 27th October, home of the artists and designer of Dundee.  It’s a sneak peek into the studios were you will see a real variety of creative practices.

I will have my full range of illustrated products called Dundee Delights plus one-off prints, new Christmas card designs and of course a bargain box.  If you’ve never been to my studio before you’ll see my love of pattern and it’s a bit chaotic!  My Dundee Delights collection is highlighting the great things here in Dundee, everything from the V&A Dundee to Dundee Cakes.

Come along and see designers, makers and artists in their own creative spaces, where you will have a chance to enjoy a chat and even the chance to purchase some items right from where its made!

You’ll find a wide variety of work including textiles, fashion, illustration, printmaking, jewellery, drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics.

Also, a great way to find out more about our exciting range of events, workshops, and learning opportunities!  more info on the Facebook event page 

Fun A Day Exhibition

Fun Fun Fun!  

During the month of January I took part in Fun A Day, where you do something fun every day.   I wanted to explore and play with an idea with no defined outcome to see where it takes me. Adapting the ‘Five Currant Buns’ nursery rhyme as a starting point.  I went on a journey and did some sketches of bakers shops, ink drawings, illustrations, patterns and then focused on creating a range of paper cuts of local shop fronts and all cool things they sell.  I love local independent shops on the high street.  

The exhibition opens on Friday 13th April at 7pm, and is on over the Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 7pm at Gallery space, 4th floor, WASPS Studios, Meadow Mill, Dundee, DD1 5BY.   The exhibition will have an eclectic mix of projects that happened in January.

A few of the things I created during Fun A Day will be developed in the future, I can imagine a range of illustrations to a 5 Dundee Cakes in the bakers shop counting book. Doing the paper cuts allowed me to think about the positive and negative space and keep designs quite simple.  I’ve been playing with these by adding colour and texture since January.  Here are some test pieces

Some of my pieces will be for sale, please contact me directly hello@louisekirby.com or call/text 07841423335. 

For more info on the whole event check out the Fun A Day exhibition page

WASPS Open Studios 28th & 29th October

WASPS Open Studios 2017

When: 28th & 29th October, 12noon—5pm on both days
Where: 2nd, 3rd & 4th floors Meadow Mill, West Hendersons Wynd, Dundee, DD1 5BY

I will have my new Dundee Delights cards, enamel pins and tea towels available (and hopefully some screen prints)

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Meadow Mill Open Studios

meadow mill open studio 2015
I will be taking part in Meadow Mill Open Studios where 35 plus artists, designers and makers open their creative spaces to let you get a behind the scenes look.  Open on 24th & 25th October from 12noon – 5pm on both days.red pudding web

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Vision for V&A Dundee

Vision V&A LouiseI’ve created some Patterned Artworks for my vision of what Dundee will look like when the V&A Dundee is built on the River Tay.  In my illustration I really wanted to capture the creativity going on in Dundee using  my signature style.  Using pattern as a metaphor to show the energy and creativity that weaves, blends and merges together with all the different creative people, cultural organisations and events happening in Dundee.

My Patterned Artworks have a natural flow that echo natures organic ability to sit in harmony to its surroundings and I see the V&A Dundee fitting into Dundees’ changing landscape very well.

Wool Delaine Louise Kirby small for web

This image is digitally printed on wool to create a wall hanging.  The Patterned Artworks could be printed on a multitude of products from tea towels, ceramics, cushions, scarves, prints, mugs, notepads… the list is endless!  I would love to be commissioned to create Patterned Artworks for the V&A Dundee.

My wall hanging will be on show at the Wasps Artists Open Weekend on the 19th & 20th October outside my studio on level 4, studio 404.  You can find out more about the Open Studio weekend on my previous blog.

Sneak Peek into Dundee Creatives Studios

wasps open studio 2013

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October 2013, from 12 noon – 5pm

I would like to invite you to the Dundee Meadow Mill Wasps Artists Open Studios on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th October from 12noon – 5pm.

My studio will be open with a range of Bargain Boxes with scarves, cards and prints and you can see some of the new things I’ve been working on!  I’m on the 4th floor, in studio 404! (there is a lift!!!).  I have the lovely Sooz Gordon sharing my studio who styles funky eclectic interiors, makes Dundee inspired cushions and offers Style Surgeries for others to learn about interior design.

Lots artists will be taking part all under the one roof from a wide range of creative practices – painting, ceramics, illustration, textiles, jewellery, installation, interiors, photography and much more.  It’s a chance to have a look inside the creative spaces.

As well as the usual amazing array of artists and makers welcoming you into their place of work, this year we have a programme of FREE events in the Gallery Space on Saturday and Sunday (see below).  There will be a cafe and a group show of tenants work in the cafe area and Project 2 on the 4th floor. This year we will have a shop curated by Lovely Things with some of their product alongside work from artists and makers.  I will have a selection of things in there too, it’s on the 3rd floor, in studio 316.

Saturday 19th
12-1pm Creative Writing with author Zoe Venditozzi (maximum of 8 people)

1:30-2pm The Museum and the Whaleback City – Poetry Reading by Andy Jackson.

Fife-based poet Andy Jackson reads from his poetry collection The Assassination Museum and also from Whaleback City, the new anthology featuring six centuries of Dundee poetry, of which he is co-editor. Expect quirky, accessible poetry on themes as diverse as Daleks, dancing and conspiracy theories.

3:30-5pm Best Bits of Pecha Kucha Dundee (screening).

Sunday 20th
12:30-1:30pm – Meet the Inkers – Vanilla Inkers new intake.

2-5pm TRiGGER : Connectivity @ WASPS 2013 – TRiGGER is holding a participatory drop in afternoon on Sunday 20th October at WASPS Meadowmills Gallery space from 2-5pm. We will be inviting visitors and studio artists to contribute to an informal reflective visual response to WASPS Open Studios weekend. The afternoon is a relaxed and interactive experience with participation welcome from all visitors.

(These events will take place in Project 1 on the 4th floor.)

Ms Battenberg’s Travelling Tea Room will provide a veritable cornucopia of delectable treats. Sit back and relax with some homemade treats and a cuppa. Available throughout the weekend.

Come and try on my scarves and enjoy my colourful patterned studio!  Come and see the creative talent Dundee has to offer!  For a map please link here.

Please spread the word to others you think may be interested!

Come and have a peek!

Hello there!

Come along and have a peek in my studio, see what creatures are hiding amongst the colourful marks.

I’m opening up as part of WASPS OPEN STUDIOS  on Saturday 3rd + Sunday 4th November on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor of an old jute mill in bonnie Dundee.  Where 50 creatives will open up their studios in the one building.  And we have a new fandangled lift to take you to all the floors!

We’ve all settled into our newly refurbished spaces and lots of fab new artists and designers – such as Nikki McWilliams and her great biscuity cushions, Vanilla Ink and her jewellery studio with 8 jewellers always something that’ll take your fancy, Islay Spalding with jewellery that I think looks great in my lugs, Mhairi Wild and her lovely colourful textiles………. lots of new artists, designers and makers to really makes it worth a visit.  And of course some of the folks that have been  creating in there for years such as Paola McClure and her wacky soft sculptures, Garry Brown and his wooden driftwood sculptures, artist Louise Ritchie and her expressive artworks, Lindsey Gardiner and her great illustrations that now fashion themselves on cushions and bags……….and many more!

I will have a range of scarves and have some samples on things I’m working on. My lovely mum will be holding the fort for me on the Saturday afternoon and I’ll be there in person on the Sunday.  Come along and say hello!

Full list of Open Studios Artists, Designers and Makers taking part – Jonathan Hood, Simon Dwyer, Volker Rosenberg, Peter Mansfield, Tracey Stewart, Nikki McWilliams, Lyndsey Gardiner, Vanilla Ink Kate Pickering, Sally Fenton, Leanne Evans, Scarlett Erskine, Victoria Kelsey, Robin Bell, Audrey Reid, Ruth Morrison, Filipa Oliveria, Joanne MacFadyen, Lynda Watson, Jen Robson, Liz Myhill, Neil McIntee, Islay Spalding, Penelope Anstice, Susie Johnston, Garry Brown, Shona Adam, Louise Kirby, Robert Macmillan, Alistair Evans, Nicole Baudon, Luiza Ramazzotti, Genna Delaney, Madeleine Mackay, Mhairi Wild, Jonathan Burns, Marianne Wilson, Vivien Moore, Paola McClure, Dougie Paterson, Louisa Lewis, Astrid Leeson, Cally Booker, Gearaidh Mac Griogair, Gerard Menzies, Casey Campbell, Claire Anne Grant, Holly Wilcox, Lauren Leiper, Nicola Morrison, Pamie Bennett, Jill Skulina, Emily Inns., Louise Ritchie.

Where I Make

I was asked to write a feature with some photos for This Is Central Station on where I make.  You can also see other Scottish artists and designers too.

Welcome to my wonderful patterned world where I capture the drama of Scottish wilderness with nature at the heart of my surface designs.

Everything happens here in my studio in bonnie Dundee – colour studies, developing ideas, playing with scale and pattern, paper designs, cutting stencils, screen printing, painting, collage, fabric samples, mixing dyes, planning schools and community workshops, sewing and the list goes on…

All these steps help me create my surface patterns for a range of products and applications.  I’m on a mission to cover the world in my designs from wallpapers, wellies, ceramics, and murals to Land Rover Defenders – the possibilities are endless!

I have a playful approach and mix together delicious colours, juxtaposing scales, energetic repetitive marks, to create my distinct rhythmic signature.

I love my cosy space where I surround myself with colour swatches, drawings, fabric samples, old coffee pots of brushes, wooden printing blocks and random things I’ve collected.  I like nothing more than getting my hands dirty in the studio.  It’s not too flash but being surrounded by all my inspiration is really important and keeps me focused.

I am part of the Dundee WASPS artist’s studios and I’m in a temporary space on Airlie Place for 6 months while my studio at Meadowmill is being refurbished.  I really like it, it used to be a students bedroom so it has a homely feel with a fireplace and a sink.  I settled in quickly after a quick lick of white paint.  I like the location as it next to the DJCAD and I can see a tree out of my window.  I like being part of WASPS as I’m surrounded by other fellow creative’s from a range of art forms from printmakers, jewellers, sculptural textiles and painters.

I love being in my studio and being playful and creative!

Goodbye Meadow Mill and Hello Airlie Place!

I’ve moved temporarily to Airlie Place for 6 months while the refurbishment goes on at Meadow Mill.   I’m loving my new space at Airlie Place, which used to be Dundee University student residence.  I’ve settled in really well, it’s a great location, love having a sink in my studio and a fireplace to sit my brushes.

WASPS provide cheap studio rent for artists and are refurbishing all 3 levels of the mill – heating, improving the windows, gallery space, some wifi and a common area for all those creative collaborations and including a lift! The unused space on the 4th floor is going to be made into studio too. Here’s what it look like now.

I think it was a really good process to have a good clear out, sort through years of clutter and box ever thing up.

Here’s my new view from my window

There’s some great views from the corridors of the river Tay and Law hill.

Think I’m going to enjoy my time at Airlie Place! For lots of creativity – playing with colour, pattern, textures and silhouettes.