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.
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.
Hollie runs Wild Fife Babies and Bairns. The aim of her work is to ignite and encourage the natural curiosity and inquisitiveness of young children in nature so that they develop a love and respect for the natural world and gain from its benefits, especially regarding their own physical and emotional development. Hollie’s activities, such as Little Shoots, are just as much for the adults as they are for the children, plus you get a free hot drink and a chance to meet other like minded people, parents, and carers.
Hollie runs Wild Fife Babies and Bairns. The aim of her work is to ignite and encourage the natural curiosity and inquisitiveness of young children in nature so that they develop a love and respect for the natural world and gain from its benefits, especially regarding their own physical and emotional development. Hollie’s activities, such as Little Shoots, are just as much for the adults as they are for the children, plus you get a free hot drink and a chance to meet other like minded people, parents, and carers.
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.
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 loved working with people and nature, my work at the Forgan Arts Centre combines the two of these passions, running workshops for women and children, to build confidence and ability in the outdoors. I run a whittling and bushcraft workshop for the kids and at the Women Who Whittle classes I teach spoon carving and mushroom carving around a fire in the woods. My classes are relaxed and fun giving individuals the ability to continue the craft in their own homes and gardens.
I have always loved working with people and nature, my work at the Forgan Arts Centre combines the two of these passions, running workshops for women and children, to build confidence and ability in the outdoors. I run a whittling and bushcraft workshop for the kids and at the Women Who Whittle classes I teach spoon carving and mushroom carving around a fire in the woods. My classes are relaxed and fun giving individuals the ability to continue the craft in their own homes and gardens.
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
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.
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.
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.
Philippa is a metalwork artist who ‘draws’ with wire, creating pieces that sit somewhere between 2D and 3D. She also works sculpturally with recycled tin, clay and other materials. Her work reflects her love of animals and birds and her fascination with folk and children’s art. She teaches all day workshops in both creating with wire and recycled tin at the centre throughout the year. She also runs a day workshop in making a wreath from recycled tin and wire in the autumn.
Philippa is a metalwork artist who ‘draws’ with wire, creating pieces that sit somewhere between 2D and 3D. She also works sculpturally with recycled tin, clay and other materials. Her work reflects her love of animals and birds and her fascination with folk and children’s art. She teaches all day workshops in both creating with wire and recycled tin at the centre throughout the year. She also runs a day workshop in making a wreath from recycled tin and wire in the autumn.
Astrid Weigel is a textile maker producing a collection of decorative home accessories and wall art from her studio in Angus. Her fabrics are created using a mixture of techniques comprising screen printing, free-hand painting, among others. Her inspiration comes predominantly from nature and everyday life. Astrid teaches a fabric stencilling weekend class at the centre. It’s a really simple yet very effective technique to print onto fabric without the need for expensive equipment. In the class, she will show you how to create paper stencils which are then used to print a pattern on cloth, creating a unique wall hanging to take home.
Astrid Weigel is a textile maker producing a collection of decorative home accessories and wall art from her studio in Angus. Her fabrics are created using a mixture of techniques comprising screen printing, free-hand painting, among others. Her inspiration comes predominantly from nature and everyday life. Astrid teaches a fabric stencilling weekend class at the centre. It’s a really simple yet very effective technique to print onto fabric without the need for expensive equipment. In the class, she will show you how to create paper stencils which are then used to print a pattern on cloth, creating a unique wall hanging to take home.