Heather studied Fine Art before pursuing her practice in ceramics, working to set up Collective studios for artists, exhibiting her work widely, and teaching. Enthusiastic about alternative glazing and firing methods, Heather leads raku workshops and is always open to helping you experiment and innovate with new ways of working. Heather is a master craftsperson having honed her practice over many years.
I started making baskets in 2020 after 28 years in the Fire Service. Willow is a beautiful material; light, flexible and very strong. Perfectly sustainable; it can be grown as a coppice for many years. It sequesters carbon, encourages wildlife and bio-diversity, and is fully compostable. I grow some willow in Fife, with the rest coming from Somerset. Using traditional techniques, I love making strong, useful and beautiful baskets with a variety of natural colours and textures. I make one-off baskets for sale and to order, and have a few baskets available at Pillars of Hercules near Falkland. Recently I have been running one-day basket making workshops at Forgan Arts Centre and two-day workshops in Cupar, Newburgh and Perth. At Forgan Arts Centre the emphasis has been on making simple round baskets; I try to make sure participants have fun and take home a useful, beautiful and unique basket.
Graduating with BA (Hons) in Ceramic Design in 2010 from The Glasgow School of Art I have since gone on to exhibit my work nationally and internationally as well as work with a range of artists, institutions and on various public projects. Currently based in Aberdeen I am often referred to as a ‘Nomadic Ceramicist’ working across Scotland.
Working with themes of heritage has been central to my current work and development as a ceramicist. Making narrative work that considers traditional and contemporary practice exploring the links between identity, place, material and craft, through slip casting and atmospheric firing as well as providing a foundation of contemporary skills, expertise and knowledge for others through classes and workshops. Integral to my practice is participation and engagement greatly valuing opportunities to continue to learn alongside others. Initially motivated by an investigation of my own family heritage, concerning my grandfather who was a fishing ghillie as part of Ballogie Estate in Aberdeenshire this connection with heritage has translated into other recent projects.
I have always been creative since being a child and have tried many crafts over the years. In my late twenties I started working with glass, learning both lead came and foil construction also known as Tiffany Stained Glass and have been hooked ever since. For over forty years it has fulfilled and inspired me to create unique work in my leisure time while I worked full time. Now I am retired I have increased the number of classes/workshops I lead at Forgan Arts Centre and predominantly teach the foil construction of stained glass.
Margaret’s Instagram
Nicola Wiltshire is a full time artist born in Bedfordshire and living in Dundee, with a Ba Hon’s Fine Art – University of Westminster (2009) and an MFA Art and Humanities – DJCAD. Nicola has taught at McManus Museum and Art Gallery, Discovery, Verdant Works, Royal Scottish Academy, as well as at schools, and community groups. She mostly works in oil paint on fabric, with stylised drawings and paintings based on her everyday life, but also with pastels and ink on paper. Her subjects include people, places and still life. Nicola teaches drawing and painting at Forgan Arts Centre. Her teaching style encourages individuality and playfulness, with a focus on helping people find their unique creative voice.
Pamela Scott is a freelance illustrator and printmaker who creates prints, paintings and public art. Her work can be found in local independent shops, at seasonal craft markets, on display at various exhibitions and in her online shop. She creates original black and white linocut and screen prints inspired by nature, architecture and places she has visited, Pamela’s designs are particularly inspired by her surroundings and often feature some of Dundee’s best loved buildings and landmarks. She also has popular range of prints called ‘Linocut Lyrics’ inspired by her love of music. Pamela teaches Introduction to Linocut workshops at Forgan Arts Centre throughout the year.
Theresa Gourlay is a practicing artist living and working in Fife. She regularly participates in Open Studios and exhibits across Scotland. Theresa graduated from DJCAD in Drawing and Painting and went on to teach Art and Design in schools over a 30 year career.
Since retiring from teaching Theresa has returned to her practice full time. Recent exhibitions include “Getting Lost” at the Off the Rails Arthouse, Ladybank, and “Self” in Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh. Theresa makes portraits of people from memory and imagination. Her landscapes are inspired by her home here in Fife. Her work is primarily in paint, print, and drawing.
Sean Kingsley runs Butter Wynd Pottery with contributions from Christine and daughter Erin, with some clay digging muscle from son Lewis. Sean started working with clay at Edinburgh College of Art and went on to work for spells at Purcells Cove Pottery in Nova Scotia and the Banff Centre in the Rockies. Running studios as Sean Kingsley Ceramics at Royal Park Ceramics and El Paso, Morningside in Edinburgh preceded working in the Department of Ceramics at the University of Dundee. He established the current DJCAD Clay facility, and supported students and research staff in their clay endeavours.
Butter Wynd Pottery was established in October 2009, with the first local clay dig. The resulting pots show the influence of folk history and traditional craft. In the mix and less obvious are interwoven thoughts on contemporary domestic needs, environment, material provenance, digital technologies and well being.
Keny Drew is a stained glass and fused glass artist working from his studio in the East Neuk of Fife. He has developed his own unique style with glass and together with his love of contemporary design he offers his clients a wealth of creative and modern glass ideas.
Tom Varley has extensive experience teaching Art in Design in schools, colleges, and galleries. Tom graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2008 with a degree in Painting and Printmaking. He completed an MFA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths in 2017 and holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Art Education. Tom was the recipient of the Drawing Room Bursary Award in 2012, a Goldsmiths Postgraduate Scholarship in 2015, and the Chelsea Arts Club Trust Award in 2016. His work has been supported by the Elephant Trust, Creative Scotland, Jerwood Visual Arts, and the Arts Trust of Scotland among others. Tom’s work has been shown in group exhibitions and screenings at venues including: Centre for Contemporary Art Glasgow; DIY Space for London; Whitechapel Art Gallery; Cooper Gallery Dundee; PS2 Belfast; Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum; Ciné 13 Théâtre Paris; MUPO Oaxaca; Global Committee New York; Volksbuehne Pavilion Berlin; ICA London; Rhubaba Edinburgh; and the Drawing Room London. Tom has had solo exhibitions at Tramway Glasgow, Collective Gallery Edinburgh, and Glasgow Project Room.
Trish O’Meara of Wormit Woolies is a local fibre artist. Working mainly with sheep fleece, Trish sources her materials sustainably and shares her knowledge on all things felt. Trish offers weekly classes as well as weekend workshops on individual projects in Fife here at Forgan Arts Centre.