Category Archives: Work

Making a splash

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Here is my artwork I created for the new manicure and pedicure space within The Sunflower Rooms in Dundee.  Owner Jennifer Comiskey approached me after seeing the video of me creating the giant storefront art work for Anthropologie.  She wanted me to create something unique for her space not just a painting or feature wall paper.

I was delighted to be asked to use me signature style (pattern, colour, markmaking, silhouettes) to create a bespoke artwork that reflected an elegant femine feel in the colour scheme of red, grey and black.  
First I came up the some sketch ideas of what I proposed to create based on an initial chat and look at the space.  Then I showed Jennifer and she chose her favourite and gave me artistic freedom within the room.  The actual painting took a few days using a mixture of hand painting and stencilling.  The artwork grew and flowed around the room.

The room has a lovely contemporary feel and it’s nice to have something other than sunflowers too!  Jennifer used other local business to create her bespoke beautiful space.

I hope clients enjoy getting their twinkle toes and fancy fingers done surrounded by my colourful artwork.

Here’s some photos of the artwork in progress.

Where I Make

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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!

Labour of Love – Anthropologie NYC

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My first export order has gone over the pond and far away… all the way to New York! They have flown to 2 of Anthropologie’s stores in New York – the Chelsea Market store and 16th & 5th store.

These hand printed scarves are all handmade by me in Scotland; and each scarf is ever so slightly different.  It’s intensive and very much a labour of love to design and craft my scarves to create the finished product.

Here’s a wee bit of info on the processes from start to finish:  From the mixing of dyes to create delicious pots of colour, I do lots of testing to get the right shades. Hand screen printing each scarf individually using complicated blending techniques and stencils of pheasants.  Mono printing the reverse side, gives a very unique hand made quality where each mark is scratched in.  Washing the screens, hanging to dry, steaming of silk to fix the dyes, hand washing till any loose dyes are removed (and by this time my fingers have all gone wrinkly), ironing, sewing and adding in the care labels. Then attaching the official Anthropologie labels, felt good! Packaging up and to note the massive amount of paperwork from purchase orders to packaging list then Fed Ex-ing over the pond!

It’s been a real learning experience working on this project and I’d like to thanks to the whole Anthropologie team that helped me get through all the hoops for exporting. I felt like a very little fish swimming across the Atlantic Ocean or perhaps more apt, a wee Scottish birdie flying across the Atlantic Ocean!

My work sits so well with Anthropologie’s brand and values; with their ethos of quality, love of pattern, and how they really embrace working with artists and makers.  I think this makes them them unique even though they are such a big company.

Their unique shopping experience means you just want to spend time in their stores. The beautiful displays are always a feast for your senses; and so many beautiful things mixed with very good styling and visual merchandising.

It’s great how having created the storefore front for their new Edinburgh store in May (see video), I’ve since designed a small collection for the Edinburgh store and now scarves for the New York stores.  I really hope the ladies of NYC like my scarves, who knows who will be wearing them!

Only in New York……this could happen!

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I was so lucky to be in New York at just the right time, I came across a book signing by illustrator and writer Eric Carle at the Barnes & Noble book store in Union Square.

He was promoting his new book The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, this is to encourage confidence and creativity with children and he says that “you don’t have to stay within the lines and they are no ‘wrong’ colours”.  This was a great excuse for me to treat myself to 3 childrens books – The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Animals Animals and Baby Bear, Baby Bear What Do You See.

There was quite a grown up audience there for the signing as he is a well loved illustrator mostly know for his book The Hungry Caterpillar.  I didn’t realise he had illustrated so many books and also has a museum dedicated to picture books.


Also while I was in NYC I also got some goodies in Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn which was a great space to browse with a fantastic selection of arty design books and children’s section too with exhibition, events and graffiti.

They also stock Natalie Russells Moon Rabbit which is nice to see a Dundee illustrators books while on holiday in NYC.

WASPS CREATIVE POP UP WEEKEND

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My studio will be open as part of this fab event.  I’m based at Airlie Place (just off the Perth Road and down from the students union)  There’s a great mix of Artists and Designers and Special Guests taking part.  I will have a range of luxurious silk and wool scarves for sale, and a bargain box for you to have a rummage.  Feel free to invite lots of people to this creative event happening in Bonnie Dundee.  For more information the facebook page click here.

WASPS Artists at Airlie Place – Genna Delaney, Nicola Morrison, Jennifer Robson, Paola McClure, Louise Kirby, Volker Rosenberg, Neil McIntee, Casey Campbell, Jill Skulina, Louise Ritchie

WASPS Artists at Meadow Mill – Kirsty Doig

WASPS Artists at Douglas Court – Cathrine Holtet, Jonathan Hood, Allan Beveridge,

SPECIAL GUESTS –
Two Dolls
Steven Higginson artist
Howard Callow
Dot Stewart
Juliette Townsend ceramicist
Amanda McAllum
Patricia Griffin
James Skelton Smith
Lee Mitchell
Christina Hirst
The Scarlet Bakery
Yoke

Shortlisted in British Airways Great Britons!

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I entered the Art Category for the British Airways Great Britons competition to design the exterior surfaces of their aeroplanes – it was the ideal opportunity to showcase my work on 12 BA aeroplanes flying around the world.  It couldn’t get any better!


[Thanks to Cara Pirie who helped me with my film clip]

The competition linked to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and I created a design especially for it as I thought my style would capture the excitement and drama of the Olympics!

After submitting 3 images (as above), a 2 minute film and 500 words, I was so excited to be shortlisted and to be in the final 10!  I received a giant posted parcel, with lots of exciting goodies from BA – a model plane, colour swatches and profile drawings and CD of BA planes, interview guidelines.  I loved the glossy swatches of paint!

The shortlist selection was held in the Royal Academy of Arts in London; where I had to give a 10 minute presentation and interview in front of a very high-profile panel – Tracey Emin (artist),  Eliza Bonham Carter (Curator of Royal Academy), Luiza Fernandez (British Airways), David Barnes (British Airways).  You can image how nerve racking that was!  And to top it off there was a film crew and I had to be miked up!

Here’s me sitting waiting patiently! Portfolio – check! artwork – check! power point – check! nerves – check! Psychological pee – check!

I wanted to engage the panel to visualise my work in 3D, so I got them to make a paper aeroplane and fly them as part of my presentation.  I was a bit apprehensive about asking them to do it but they were up for the challenge!  Here are the planes made by the panel – they only had 30 seconds!

I got to meet some of the other shortlisted artists as we sat nervously waiting – Andrew David Green, Jayne Stephen, Martin Herbert.

Congratulations to Pascal Anson who won, this will really showcase his work to an international audience.

I’m very proud to have been shortlisted to the final 10 but obviously a wee bit disappointed not to be the winner!  It was good experience and it’s all part of my mission to see my artwork on different contexts.

For the full British Airways press release click here.

Royal Academy Summer Show

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When for a whizz round the Royal Academy Summer Show in London.  I really enjoyed it and came out feeling all refreshed and invigorated.  There was a great mix of artworks from architects models, photography, sculpture, painting and printmaking.

I loved the way the paintings cover the walls and each room had a different theme.  Here are some of the things I liked.

The show is now finished but it’s on my to do list for visiting next year!

 

 

Buzzing Southbank

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There was so much going on in Southbank in London at the weekend – tunes, exhibitions, free runners, skateboarders, tasty food, graffiti, street performers………..

Tasty food at the market behind the Royal Festival Hall where I had lovely Morrocan food – it was hard to choose which stall as there was so many tasty delights.

Lots of colourful creative beach huts by different artists from holiday snaps, stylish swim wear to shell art and of course I liked the striped one.
and lots of summertime words around with a manmade beach with buckets and spades.

Great to see free exhibition as you walk along, The Lion & Unicorn was interesting created by aritst Gitta Gschwendtner working with refugees to create creative writing and paper aeroplanes that look like a flock of birds.

Dj Mr Scruff was playing his funky tunes at the Bulmers Cider Garden

Next time I’m there I’m going to catch the Tracey Emin exhibition at the Hayward

Childhood inspiration, fun and games

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I have discovered the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green in London, I loved it! Some much to see – tin toys, puppets, spiro-graphs, sooty and sweep, folk art toys. A great place to be inspired by and reminisce about.

Great exhibition of Judith Kerrs illustrations ‘From The Tiger Who Came To Tea to Mog and Pink Rabbit‘, lots of fun interactions for the kids and big kids too!

Lovely detail and craftmanship in the mosaic entrance with the 3d pattern.

There was a great exhibition where artists worked with school children to create an exhibition called ‘stuff of nightmares‘, the whole thing was put together very well with a pretty dark side from the line up of toys who were suspects, a lovely hand quality to the newspaper trees, great mix of toys and random things – it created a whole scene! Here’s a couple of photos of it.