Dundee Wasps Open Studios

YEAH it’s happening!

We are welcoming people back to Meadow Mill for our WASPS Open Studios on the 6th and 7th August from 12 noon – 5pm.  This gives the public a real insight into how the different artists and designer work here in Dundee. All the spaces are so different from colourful busy spaces, quirky spaces, practical workshops to calm retreats. I love seeing pots of brushes, messy palettes, rows of tools!

Exhibition on the 4th Floor with a range of artworks to give a flavour of the creativity in the building.  And coffee and pastries from EH9 just next to my studio with a drawing table to sit and be creative!

This year I’m looking forward to seeing the studios of new tenants who have moved in over the last few years! 

Studios I’m looking forward to seeing:

Cara Rooney and her award winning illustrations, I love how she captures a childlike curiosity in her work. Kate Harvey with her colourful fashion textiles. The very dramatic landscape paintings from Ellis O’Connor. The hive of activity from the fabulous Dundee Ceramics Workshop with demonstrations and raffle. And in contrast we have artists who have been creating for many years, such as Maggie Milne who graduated over 40 years ago from DJCAD.

Organised Colourful Chaos

My studio will be organised colourful chaos, with a range of things I’ve been working on from: models, design sheets, test pieces, bespoke artworks plus I will have my full range of Dundee Delights greetings cards, tea towels, magnets including some new card designs and all the one-off prints that I’ve not had a chance to put on my online shop yet!

I’ve been really enjoying developing some larger scale watercolour collages. I started creating these during lockdown inspired by the river Tay. I really enjoy the balance and rhythms of colours and playing with composition to get them to work together.

I am also looking to clear some older works so big discounts on things too, if you’ve ever had your eye on anything – the time is now!  Plus I will be doing a wee special offer with 2 tea towels for £20 (£12.50 each).

Local creative businesses are joining in too from the 1st floor – Whimsical Lush with her quirky illustrations, Kerrie Aldo and her cool handmade outerwear, Susan Doyle with amazing aprons 1874 WORKS , Maggie Duncan with Made At The Mill and vintage clothing from Nicely Eclectic and many more…..

Lift access and free parking available (ask for a ticket when you arrive on the door). 

Please share this event to support lots of local creatives so we can let as many people know about our hub of creativity that we have here in our city.

I hope you enjoy your visit and come away feeling inspired!

This is the building you’re looking for, I’m on the 4th Floor in studio 404, come and say hello!

Berry Blair Tallboy

Thanks to Jen and Kenny from Brodies Timber for inviting me to collaborate on this piece.  I loved adding a pop of colour and a local story to the piece of vintage furniture and they restored it and french polished the drawers.

This design is inspired by my summers as a child picking berries at my uncle Willie McIntyre’s fields in Essendy near Blairgowrie.

Memories of colourful berry baskets tied round my waist with string, popping red raspberries which were hanging from the bushes and hiding under the leaves, delicious juicy berries bursting with flavour and the stripes of the dreels up field.

In this bespoke hand painted piece, I’ve tried to capture a sense of place of my happy memories of picking berries, by playfully contrasting patterns and using meaningful references. 

I enjoyed re–naming the colour to:

  • Raspberry Red
  • Nabbler Green
  • Sun bleached baskets
  • Retro Teal
  • Orange String

It was great to be in the space and I loved the workshop with all the tools on display and so much lovely wood around with all the warm colours and patterns in the grains.

It was great to work alongside Suzanne Scott from Whimsical Lush who was also painting a vintage piece. You can see me painting another piece of wood that will be used in modern furniture. Looking forward to seeing what they turn it into.

Louise Kirby and Suzanne Scott at work in the workshop