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
I’m delighted to have painted a penguin on the Maggie’s Penguin Parade. Number 64 on the trail map, next to the 5 penguin sculptures. It’s great to be part of the trail of 80 penguins to find in Dundee and surrounding areas and the money raised is for Maggie’s Dundee. You can find out more about it 
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
Patterned sand looking over to Broughty Ferry castle with a happy sun shiny Dundee cake sky, evoking memories of days at the beach.
The characterful 5 bronze penguins by sculptor Angela Hunter that make people smile as they walk past and sometimes they have been known to adorn clothes and hats.
Local delicacy of the Dundee Cake, with the lovely pattern of the almonds on top.
Maggies Centre designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry here in the city which I believe is evidence of how good design changes peoples’ lives providing a place of calm, support, nurture and tranquility created within a purposeful space. Externally, I enjoy the shape and movement of the roof which I feel echoes the local landscape.
Creative and cultural hub in Dundee with the curved face of different surfaces which is invites you in to the space which houses 2 cinemas, print studio, galleries and a bar and a restaurant.
Dundee’s art gallery and museum in the fantastic gothic revival architecture, I love dramatic staircase and the detail in the architecture. So many stories lye within this building I particularly love the ceramics, Dundee and the World exhibitions and the Tay whale.
I’ve loved Dundee Design Festival 2017 it’s provided me with inspiration, professional development, place to work, networking and nourishment for me and my practice – just what I needed!
There was lots of things take part in, dicsuss and hear about. 
I chose a blue triangle for Silent Monitors, where the colours and positions were decided by people opinions of how you felt on how your data was being used.
I ate popcorn and drumstick lollipops while watching Graphic Means film brought to the festival by 
The building is such a great space with the real industrial feel with the exposed pipes and extractors, faded painted lines that separate area and the lovely sunshine shining streaming through the coloured windows.
This worked well with the simplicity of the bright tables legs created by 
From our meeting I did lots of sketches of different compositions and imagery ideas. I love drawing, markmaking and patterns so I created some interesting relevant images and marks and movement that would compliment the design. Then I exposed the images onto screen. I did colour tests, then started hand screen printing onto the wood panels.
I work well to a deadlines and it was tight as I had to have it completed so it could be installed before their 1st Birthday celebrations. And I did it !
Have you spotted these vans around tayside?