Contact Details

Shambellie House Trust, New Abbey, Dumfries. DG2 8HQ

01387 440082 |
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Name
Phone
Email
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Ailsa Mackay
ailsamackayart@gmail.com
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Ailsa Mackay
Email:
ailsamackayart@gmail.com

Description:

After graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Ailsa has spent over 30 years as a professional artist and designer. Her designs have been sold globally, appearing on fashion, home décor, and household products in the UK, Australia, Germany, and the USA. She has also worked as a stationery and interior designer and as an art tutor. Commissions for her original paintings and prints have sold widely across the UK and internationally.

Ailsa's bold and dynamic style, influenced by her design background, breathes life into her acrylic, gouache, and soft pastel works, drawing inspiration from daily life and the  natural world.

Now back in Scotland after working in the south of England for the majority of her career, Ailsa has become an established art educator, teaching core drawing and painting skills to all abilities.

She is a Director of  “For Enjoyment CIC” an arts based social enterprise that teaches core creative skills throughout Dumfries and Galloway. She is a Trustee of the DGUnlimted, the Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts, and sits on the Artists of Shambellie House Steering Group.

Beyond art, she works across academia, government and practice, as Lead for the National Centre for Resilience, a scientific research centre focusing on community resilience to natural hazards and climate change. She is passionate about employing creative approaches to improve health and wellbeing, utilising them in a way that can help individuals build better and stronger resilience to the inevitable challenges that we all face throughout our lives.

Ailsa is the co-author of a number of research projects exploring community resilience building and fostering resilience in young people with special needs. She was recently interviewed on ITV Border news for spearheading a landmark creative Burns event in collaboration with Dumfries Museum. She has regularly displayed her work across the UK and her most recent exhibition was at Shambellie House, New Abbey.

Workshops:

  • 2025 Artists of Shambellie House Exhibition
  • Capturing Perspectives and Colours in Landscape: Painting in the Style of Scottish Colourist F. C. B. Cadell
  • Scottish Colourist Series - F. C. B. Cadell - Seascapes Painting
  • Scottish Colourist Series - F. C. B. Cadell - Vibrant Still Life Painting
  • Scottish Colourist Series – F. C. B. Cadell – 'Figure Painting'
  • Scottish Colourist Series – F. C. B. Cadell – Landscapes Painting Shambellie Woods
  • Scottish Colourist Series – F. C. B. Cadell – Painting Colourful Interiors
Alan Bennington
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Alan Bennington
Accessibility:
Wheelchair Access Required
Dietary:
Vegetarian

Description:

A photographer since 1977, Alan studied photography at Teesside College of Art in Middlesbrough and after qualifying he worked for a number of commercial photographers in the North East of England, Manchester and Hereford before setting up his own operation. This Newcastle based studio grew into one of the most in demand commercial photographers in the UK with a wealth significant roster of major manufacturing companies as long term clients. Add to this the advertising and fashion markets that Alan was working with and we can recognise an all round commercial photographer operating at the top of their game. 

In the mid ‘noughties’ Alan decided on a change of direction, lifestyle and location and applied for a lecturing post at Dumfries & Galloway College. His significant background and experience became a great asset to the college and he took the lead on the HND programme at the college developing new approaches to a strong programme that benefitted many up and coming photographers in the region and beyond.

Retiring from the college in 2018, Alan continues to work on his own self-directed projects.

Alan is a member of the AMO3BA Illustration & Photography Collective.

Workshops:

  • Photography - Exploring the Wonderful Worlds of Cyanotypes and Argyrotypes
Alan McNeish
9846845154
a.mcneish@shambellie.org
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Alan McNeish
Phone:
9846845154
Email:
a.mcneish@shambellie.org
Accessibility:
No Requirements needed
Dietary:
Vegetarian

Description:

Alan has been a photographer for over 25 years and gained a HND in photography from Dumfries and Galloway College.  He worked semi-professionally for a number of years covering events, before becoming a full-time professional in 2015.  Alan attended the University of Cumbria, Institute of Arts to gain a BA (Hons) in Photography.  He is experienced in studio lighting and has taught lighting techniques from basic to advanced.  His day-to-day work is often studio based including pet portraits.  Alan has a great passion for photography and enjoys teaching the basics through to advanced imaging in camera and digital editing.

Allan Wright
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Allan Wright

Description:

Allan’s interest in photography began while travelling and working in the oil exploration industry in North Africa, S E Asia and subsequently the North Sea. Initially dividing his time between offshore work and Galloway based landscape photography, this led to his ultimate transitioning to full time professional status. Throughout the past 30 years he has travelled extensively in Scotland, Australia and Morocco whilst building a publishing enterprise culminating in an extensive catalogue of fine art prints, books, stock images and calendars.

Allan will lead small groups on weekend retreats to guide and nurture students in an immersive experience in the creative approach to landscape, nature, abstract, and cityscape genres.

Allan has honed the ability to use basic elements such observation and simply seeing (pre-visualisation) to define the essence of place and subject. Seeking opportunities for lyricism and harmony he raises awareness of the value of fleeting light and the ability to seize decisive moment. 

Allan’s courses will endorse a relatively simplified shooting style with technical aspects often coming second to the value of developing and instinctive sense of what makes a picture really work, as distinct from simply “a nice scene”.

The course will be split, weather permitting, between 50 / 50 field activity and the digital suite. Emphases will involve enhancement and correction techniques in obtaining the best outcome from a given image file. Developing a robust approach to selective editing to define the very best material from a given shoot is also demonstrated.

The style is very informal, and time is taken to address specific challenges and areas of interest for each participant.

Workshops:

  • Creative digital landscape photography with Allan Wright - May Weekend
Andy Brooke
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Andy Brooke

Description:

Prior to moving to Dumfries two years ago, I had a career teaching art and photography at Colchester Sixth Form College in Essex. I have taught students in all areas of art and art history and have worked as a community artist with The Stove Network in NW Dumfries for the past 18 months. I also have a home studio where I combine my interests of stained glass and photo-screen printing. I have taught glass, photography and ceramics workshops to all age groups over the years.

Instagram:

Workshops:

  • Ceramics Half Day Monthly Workshops
  • Half Day Stained Glass Workshops (Monthly, Click for More Dates)
  • Stained Glass Workshop: Half Day
  • Stained Glass Workshop: Half Day Catch up Class
  • Stained Glass Workshops (Monthly, Click for More Dates)
Angie Ball
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Angie Ball

Description:

Angie Ball is a qualified tutor, trainer and supervisor of Mindfulness, Compassion and Insight and has worked as a freelance tutor for the Mindfulness Association UK for 12 years running courses both locally, throughout the UK and in the EU. A long-term practitioner of Tibetan Buddhist meditation and philosophy, she also trained in Tara Rokpa Therapy, a comprehensive therapeutic process involving a self-reflective writing, painting, relaxation, bodywork and working with the 5 Tibetan Element system for health and well-being. Previously, she worked over many years as a community artist running school projects with African and Asian artists with a strong emphasis on the benefit of Arts for Health. Angie's teaching style is interactive, experiential, fun and informative whilst exploring the exciting and rewarding journey of self-discovery.

Workshops:

  • Awakening to Spring - A Day of Self-Care and Relaxation
  • Finding Gratitude in Autumn - A Day of Reflection and Calm
  • Summer Inspired Relaxation- Celebrating your inner light.
Ann Hill
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Ann Hill

Description:

Ann has been professionally teaching quilt making for 15 years. She has exhibited her work around the world, currently with an exhibition touring America and another about to start touring 40 countries. Ann is quilter in residence at Alzheimer Scotland and has been awarded a Point of Light and a British Empire medal for her services to Alzheimer’s, both through working with those living with dementia and raising awareness through quilting exhibitions.

Ann teaches beginners and experienced quilters in the fundamentals of quilting and progress through traditional, modern and contemporary quilting. She runs weekly classes in Dumfries and Galloway. Ann is Chair of Dumfries Rotary and Vice Chair for Shambellie House Trust. She is also lead for the Quilters of Shambellie House, who are responsible for organising quilt festivals in autumn and May each year and running classes throughout the year.

Workshops:

  • Shambellie Sampler Quilt Classes 2025
Arona Allan
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Arona Allan

Description:

Arona is a local artist and a member of our New Abbey Art Group which meets weekly at Shambellie House to enjoy art. Having studied art Arona enjoys being creative and sharing that joy with other people.

Workshops:

  • 2025 Artists of Shambellie House Exhibition
Caroline McGonigal
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Caroline McGonigal

Description:

About My Practice

I am a professional artist who grew up in Kirkcudbright, and have always been influenced by water and the ephemeral in nature. Painting inspiration has come from my travels to Iceland, Arctic Norway and also to Japan. I have been greatly inspired by Zen culture in recent years and this has started to show itself in my recent work.

Tools & Materials

My preferred choice of paint is oil due to the lovely thin layers that can be created and the flexibility it offers with blending even after a few days. However I also paint in watercolour and gouache as this is much simpler to use outdoors. My wind paintings are usually gouache and created by breezes and gusts of wind. Nature creates the start of a work and is then finished by my human touch. I think of this process as a conversation with nature.

Christine Eltherington
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Christine Eltherington

Description:

Christine is an enthusiastic and passionate photographer who in her own words is constantly developing and never satisfied. A member of the Royal Photographic Society, Christine's work has been awarded distinctions, finally reaching the most prestigious award of a Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. Her style shows in the way that she sees light, observing the myriad of shades and capturing that image as a recollection of tenderness leaving a feeling of joyous serenity for all to view.

Although Christine is now living in New Zealand,  she has strong links having been a trustee of Shambellie House Trust. This first Photography Festival at Shambellie House,  Celebrating Women In Photography, was an inspired idea by Christine who has supported us from afar in bringing this to fruition.    

Distinctions : LRPS November 2014 ARPS March 2016 FRPS November 2022

Member of the Royal Photographic Society 2014

David Dewar
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David Dewar

Description:

I am a David Dewar and I work as a playwright specialising in Scottish History.  Of the 20 plays that I have written since 2005, two were on Burns, both performed in Dumfries and Galloway.  I am also a Part Time Tutor in Scottish History in the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Strathclyde.  I live in Ayrshire.

Elma Graham
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Elma Graham

Description:

Elma has been a member of the Solway Quilters in Dumfries for the last 26 years. A Home Economics teacher specialising in Needlecraft she was first introduced to patchwork and quilting while living in Suffolk. As a hobby, she has explored various types of patchwork over the years taking inspiration from workshops, quilt shows and her surroundings, teaching classes locally encouraging others to enjoy the craft.

Elspeth Hart
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Elspeth Hart

Description:

 I am a ceramic artist making both functional and sculptural work. I am influenced by the land and the ways we inhabit it. I throw and handbuild using stoneware clay and found materials. I am drawn to vessels as the starting point for my thoughts, and my work references functional pottery both ancient and contemporary. My sculptural pieces also take their forms from objects used to store, contain and sustain, in this way they are like the land which itself sustains and holds us.

Emily Tough
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Emily Tough

Description:

Emily Tough is an illustrator and cultural worker. She is the anchor to the arts collective We Agree On Eggs; the purpose of which is to create interesting and meaningful experiences, where people feel connected to themselves and the world around them. A frequent collaborator with the food group Propagate, a worker led organisation specialising in local, community and sustainable food projects. 

Photo Credit - Jamie Thompson

Emma Watson
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Emma Watson

Description:

This is my third year with Spring Fling, now under a new name (previously Emma Visca), I have been extremely lucky to have sold art all over the world. I have exhibited throughout Scotland and in Barcelona, which was a dream come true for me. I am currently studying my masters in mindfulness and have a real interest in art as a therapy.

About My Practice

I am an abstract expressionist painter. I normally have no idea what I will paint but mostly my work is on large canvas, sometimes two or three at a time. I let myself go and paint, then take a step back to see what has been released. It is a therapy for me but I do feel extremely lucky that people then want to purchase my art. Practicing mindfulness has taught me how unsettled my mind could be: painting provides me with a space to let go and accept who I am as a person and it helps me to be kind and compassionate with myself and others. We all go through such difficult times in life and meditation and art can be the perfect antidote.

Tools & Materials

Mainly large canvas and acrylic paints

Frank Hayes
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Frank Hayes

Description:

Frank Hayes is the Creative Director and Founder of “For Enjoyment CIC”. A foundation of studying at Art College started his creative path over 30 years ago. Over the last two decades Frank has worked in conservation and as a creative force and more recently as a core part of the creative movement that is For Enjoyment, as a mentor, inspirer and tutor. He’s passionate, driven and dedicated to his work. A love of travel, cycling, walking and swimming makes him an explorer of the great outdoors, with a love for natural history since a very young age which is evident through his own creative practice.

Frank’s many hats include photographer, illustrator and environmentalist. He is committed to nurturing the artistic ability within everyone and improving mental and social health, confidence and wellbeing through the power of art and creativity. Through his work with For Enjoyment he’s seen much success and recognition including becoming a two time finalist for the Culture Champion Award and the winner of Community Champion award in the Dumfries and Galloway Life Awards of 2021. He has produced artworks with many organisations across Scotland including one in partnership with Whizz-Kidz which is permanently installed in the First Minister of Scotland’s office. He supports many people from a diverse range of backgrounds into creative careers and helps them forge new paths into the wonderful world of the Arts.

Workshops:

  • 2025 Artists of Shambellie House Exhibition
Helen Walsh
helenwalsh@delicatestitches.co.uk
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Helen Walsh
Email:
helenwalsh@delicatestitches.co.uk

Description:

Helen Walsh is an Artist and Creative Practitioner specialising in drawing and textiles, in particular embroidery. She is continually fascinated by the natural world and our connection to it. She is particularly interested in birds and their feathers and uses them as symbols in her work to explore the human desire to transcend. Choosing to work predominantly with natural fibres such as silk and linen Helen finds herself consistently drawn to traditional textile skills such as embroidery, knitting and dyeing and enjoys the connections with the often forgotten makers of the past that working this way gives her. Helen is a skilled and experienced workshop leader and works on a variety of community and education based arts projects working with a diverse range of people in a variety of settings. Helen’s aim is to enable people to unlock and explore their creativity.

Workshops:

  • 2025 Artists of Shambellie House Exhibition
  • Bird Portraits: An Introduction to Needlefelting
  • Carers Session Stained Glass August
  • Disappearing Act: Butterflies in Free Motion Embroidery on Water Soluble Fabric
  • Garden Bird Portraits in Hand Embroidery
  • Garden Birds: Hand Embroidered Bird Portraits
  • Make a Festive Robin Decoration with Helen Walsh
  • Make a Quirky Bird
  • Woodland Birds: Free Motion Embroidery
Ian Biggar
07799372052
ianbiggar@btinternet.com
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Ian Biggar
Phone:
07799372052
Email:
ianbiggar@btinternet.com

Description:

I emigrated to and worked in Western and Northern Canada from 1972-74 for the Hudson's Bay Company in retail management including buying furs and selling skidoos laterally in the Arctic.
In 1975 I moved to Edmonton, Alberta and morphed an interest in Photography to selling cameras which taught me a lot about equipment. This put me in touch with a lot of people in the Photographic Industry and subsequently went to work for a studio where I learned about General Purpose Photography. One of my colleagues left there and opened his own studio and I went to work for him for 6 years learning and applying what I learned to various aspects of general photography, specialising in Audio Visuals Presentations.
From 1985-92 I worked as a Freelance Photographer mostly in Industrial and Commercial areas though still keeping close contacts with a company doing Audio Visual Presentations leading up to the Pre - 1988 Winter Olympics 21 projector slide show presented in the Calgary Tower (Alberta, Canada) viewed by over a million people.
During this time I also developed an interest in and began to teach photography workshops at the University of Alberta and began to look at passing on some of the incredible skills and talents I had learned from the largesse of my Photographic Mentors (Bruce Barnbaum, John Sexton, Cole Weston, Ray McSaveney, Huntington Witherill and the incomparable Jay Dusard) mostly in Black and White Photography as a Fine Art.
In 1992 I returned to the UK and continued to work commercially specialising in photographing paintings and architecture.
Presently I am semi-retired and photographing whatever moves me.

Workshops:

  • Medium Format Photography & Beyond - An Introduction
Jan Beadle
jan.beadle2@btopenworld.com
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Jan Beadle
Email:
jan.beadle2@btopenworld.com

Description:

Jan moved to Cumbria in the mid 80’s after completing her BA Hons in Textiles.

She has over 30 year’s experience in the textile field working in Higher Education running a Constructed Textiles resource at University of Cumbria, formally Cumbria Institute of the Arts until 2010, when she decided to concentrate fulltime on making and exhibiting her own work.

Jan is a member of the Wool Clip a cooperative in North Cumbria 

As well as selling her work in many galleries around the UK Jan runs specialist weave course for a wide range of abilities

Workshops:

  • Table Loom Weaving - Clasped Weft Weaving
  • Table Loom Weaving - Tartan Special
Jo Gallant
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Jo Gallant

Description:

Jo has worked professionally as a textile artist for over 30 years.  She has exhibited nationally and internationally and undertaken commissions, both public and private, across the UK, and has taught groups of all ages and levels of experience.  Her work, which uses dyeing, painting, stitching and embroidery, is very much influenced by her surroundings, the landscape and wildlife of Galloway.

Joanna Shennan
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Joanna Shennan

Description:

Joanna is a mixed media artist inspired by all aspects of natural form.  She focuses on printing with natural materials, stencilling and stitching on both textiles and paper, resulting in 2D abstract compositions and artists books. 

Dumfries and Galloway as a region offers a wealth of inspiration and Joanna is proud to be from this part of Scotland.

John Stewart
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John Stewart

Description:

John is Chair of Shambellie House Trust and a member of the Stewart family who built Shambellie House. Born and educated in Edinburgh, holidays were mostly spent in New Abbey. He has a wealth of knowledge about the Stewart Family, the History of Shambellie House and the surrounding area plus a good few anecdotes and stories to tell that have been passed through generations of the Stewart Family.

John obtained a veterinary degree from Cambridge University and was a practicing vet in Surrey and Hampshire for thirty years. For the past fifteen years he has followed his interest in horses’ feet and their problems and continues to work as an equine podiatrist.

In 2012 he was inducted into the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame of the American Farriers Journal and his book ‘Understanding the Horse’s Feet’ was published in 2013. In 2016, he returned ‘home’ to New Abbey from the USA and quickly became involved with the Shambellie House Trust.

Workshops:

  • Shambellie House Tour & Tea
Julian Francis
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Julian Francis

Description:

I have worked in ceramics for over 50 years and prior to moving to Dumfries and Galloway had a small commercial ceramics factory in South Yorkshire known as The Dragon Pottery, here in partnership with Sue my wife, we made our own range of pottery and had contracts to produce work other potteries, interior designers, restaurants and even made gas filters for many of Britain’s best land fill sites.

We moved to Gelston in 2000 due to Sue’s ill health andcontinued to make pottery employing just 6 people andretiring from commercial ceramics in 2006 to work independently on ceramic and mixed media projects.

Over the years I have experienced working with a wide rangeof ceramic materials and processes but have not explored the Raku process until very recently I am excited by the immediacy and unpredictability of Raku and enjoyed sharing this with folk during last year’s Spring Fling.

Julie Stephen
juliestephen@hotmail.com
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Julie Stephen
Email:
juliestephen@hotmail.com

Description:

Julie Stephen is a freelance illustrator, fine art printmaker and art tutor. Julie worked as an art and design teacher for over 20 years but is now focussing on her own visual art business, The Artful Corner.  Julie also creates ethereal hand pulled gel prints, layering colours, shapes and textures inspired by forest walks, trips to the shore and sunlight through trees.

Workshops:

  • 2025 Artists of Shambellie House Exhibition
  • Carers Session - Young Carers (1) Print Making
  • Drawing Woodland Animals with Julie Stephen
  • Introduction to Gelli Printing with Julie Stephen
  • Lino Printed Christmas Cards with Julie Stephen
  • Pen and Ink Personalised Illustration with Julie Stephen
  • Penny Dreadfuls: Creative Writing and Illustration Workshop
  • Tetra Pack Printmaking with Julie Stephen
Keith Walker
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Keith Walker

Description:

Keith Walker is a former Primary and Secondary Science teacher, retired Outdoor Learning Development Officer with the Education department of Dumfries and Galloway Council and current chair of a local camera club. In his role as an Outdoor Learning Development Officer, he was tasked with delivering training to both staff and students. This involved not only the development of basic outdoor skills (tool use, outdoor cooking, knot tying, shelter building etc.) but also emphasised the importance of communication and teamwork. Sessions were very much designed to be "hands on". Keith is also passionate about the use of photography to help people record and understand the world around them, and in particular the use of mobile phone photography.

Workshops:

  • Shambellie House Phone Photography Group Sessions
Kirsty Logan
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Kirsty Logan

Description:

Kirsty Logan is a professional daydreamer. She is the author of three novels, three story collections, a memoir, and two chapbooks. She lives in Glasgow with her wife, baby and rescue dog. She is currently working on a short musical, a short story collection and a very long novel.  Kirsty's latest book is Now She is Witch (Harvill Secker, 2023), a queer medieval witch revenge quest. Forthcoming is The Unfamiliar (Virago, 2023), a memoir of queer pregnancy and parenthood. She is also the author of two previous novels, three story collections, two chapbooks, a 10-hour audio play for Audible, and several collaborative projects with musicians and visual artists. Her books have won the Lambda, Polari, Saboteur, Scott and Gavin Wallace awards. Her work has been optioned for TV, adapted for stage, recorded for radio and podcasts, exhibited in galleries and distributed from a vintage Wurlitzer cigarette machine.

Kirsty Turpie
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Kirsty Turpie

Description:

Kirsty Turpie is a Community Artist based in South West Scotland specialising in mosaics, murals and nature-based art. She employs her multi-disciplinary skill set to activate, empower and support communities to be creative and to connect with themselves and nature. Her large-scale works include indoor and outdoor murals and permanent mosaic artworks created in collaboration with youth groups and community groups. More recently she has been utilising natural materials and processes in her workshops. She believes that helping communities to be more creative, imaginative and connected to nature can help them to thrive. 

Workshops:

  • Litha (Summer Solstice) Sound Bath, Nature Connection & Art Retreat - Connect with your inner light
  • Sound Healing for Lughnasadh, A Nature & Art Retreat - Creativity, connection, and gratitude.
Korey Patterson
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Korey Patterson

Description:

“Korey Patterson is an Illustrator and facilitator based in Dumfries & Galloway. Having worked with organisations such as the Holywood trust, Old School Thornhill, Wild Goose Festival and the University of the West of Scotland; he often facilitates comic illustration workshops for kids and designs quirky and humorous prints of comic artwork based on Robert The Bruce and Dumfries”.

Laura Hudson Mackay
07780672566
lolli@lolliography.com
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Laura Hudson Mackay
Phone:
07780672566
Email:
lolli@lolliography.com
Accessibility:
n/a
Dietary:
Gluten Free

Description:

Laura Hudson Mackay is a professional photographic Artist living in Dumfries and Galloway. Laura completed an Advanced Diploma in Illustrative Photography at Glasgow Metropolitan College in 2006 and a Diploma with Distinction in Art History at London Art College in 2013. Laura is an Associate Member of the Royal Photographic Society.

Both film and digital cameras are used and Laura explores concepts including Thresholds and Thin Places, doorways into other worlds; portals, ancient buildings or natural forms, particularly stone and wood. Still life subjects include organic forms such as flowers, feathers; found objects, employing an ever-growing library of photographic textures to create otherworldly images, which enchant and mystify.

While at home during the pandemic Lockdown in Spring 2020, Laura began spending time in her home studio, adventuring into the colourful land of food and product photography under the name 'Lolliography'. There has proven to be significant demand for this high quality work which has lead to a growing client base and resulted in the setting up of a photographic studio, here at Shambellie House!

Laura has hosted photographic walking tours in The Marrakech Medina, Morocco to both groups and individuals. She has also given demonstrations in Still Life photography in her Spring Fling Open Studio events.

Workshops:

  • Medium Format Photography & Beyond - An Introduction
  • Styling and Sampling Local Food - Photography Workshop with Laura Hudson Mackay
Lesley Bryce
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Lesley Bryce

Description:

Lesley Bradley is a local creative writing tutor, and author of children’s story, The Tattie Bogle Games. She’s had several years experience working with various organisations including Lifelong Learning, Dumfries and Galloway’s Carers Centre and Change Mental Health. 

She particularly enjoys poetry and flash fiction, and is inspired by folklore, magical realism and mythology.

Workshops:

  • Penny Dreadfuls: Creative Writing and Illustration Workshop
Lorrie Kyle
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Lorrie Kyle

Description:

Originally from Canada, I live with my family and my pets on our dairy farm in Dumfries, where I have a purpose built glass studio. After a careers in Arts and journalism, I delved hook, line and sinker into my passion and have worked within the glass medium for the past 15 years. I have been teaching glass classes and workshops for a decade now. My work also involves different community projects around Dumfries and Galloway and I also work on community based, private and business glass commissions. Glass is a wonderful arts medium to work in as it is so versatile and all abilities can work within it.

Workshops:

  • Autumn Stained Glass with Lorrie Kyle
  • Summer Stained Glass with Lorrie Kyle
Lucinda Wilkinson
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Lucinda Wilkinson

Description:

I am a professional Sculptor with over twenty years experience of working as a community artist predominantly in the field of Sculpture. My practice has been dedicated to the pursuit of Sculpture and the accessibility of Sculpture in the community.
I have shown a commitment to making and developing work in many geographical contexts - Newcastle Upon Tyne , Glasgow, London and Northern Spain. I am particularly engaged and focused on producing work centred on climate change in the polar regions. Recently I represented Scotland during International Polar Year creating an ambitious installation ; collection of glass sculptural engravings showing how Antarctica's ice shelves , glaciers and sea ice had been altered due to global warming. Transcripted from satelitte data provided by the European Space Agency the artwork is an accurate visual recording of ice loss.
As a Artist in Residence I have initiated and managed many of my projects collaborating closely with the community to arrive at ideas for developing and producing public artworks. This can be particularly seen in the Surf City Public Sculpture Project in Ruchill , Glasgow [part of Glasgow 1999 UK City Of Architecture and design]. Young and older participants with no prior experience were taught the skills of constructing and carving in stone and in laying the foundations, building process of a large scale public sculpture.
In Glasgow's Botanic Gardens I lead and ran a series of Family Sculpture Days engaging with the general public along side a project collaborating with visually impaired people , helping them to learn the skills of wood carving through a series of workshops. The carved sculptures were inspired from the range of plants and flowers grown in the glass houses .
Latterly I have led and delivered projects producing stone public artworks which enhanced community green spaces. I worked collaboratively with a core group of participants teaching them the skills of stone carving in both relief form and full sculpture . Resulting artworks were permanently placed in the grounds of Govan hill baths, and Lambill Stables Community Garden.

With the 3 year Trails And Tails Project at Kirkintilloch I delivered a series of taster stone carving workshops involving the community to create a core group to work with closely during this period. We explored the cultural heritage of the area , focusing on the lost heritage as concepts for the production of the stone public artworks which were permanently sited in the town centre and surrounding environment. I worked very closely with the participants teaching them the skills of stone carving, also producing my own work for the project alongside them .
Alongside my experience of working as a community artist I have 17 years experience of teaching in further education as a lecturer / tutor at West college Scotland for 15 years and recently at Glasgow School Of Art and Strathclyde University - continuing education department. My expertise has been in the fine art disciplines ranging from painting and drawing , printing , life drawing , location drawing , sculpture, and Mosaic Design. I also have a TQFE qualification .

Morag Macpherson
07734421029
Info@moragmacpherson.com
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Morag Macpherson
Phone:
07734421029
Email:
Info@moragmacpherson.com

Description:

I am a Textile Artist living and working near Kirkcudbright at my house and garden studio. (originally from Glasgow).
My printed textiles are created using a combination of printing techniques and repurposing fabrics. I create my own surface patterns using original illustrations and digital design combined, which are digitally printed to create my own original fabrics. I create abstract expressionist paintings and mark-making which are photographed and digitally printed. I also experiment with sustainable methods of eco-printing with leaves and flowers and natural dyeing. I enjoy dabbling with screen and mono-print and I'm always learning new skills, most recently block printing.
I have a limited edition range of accessories which include scarves and cushions. I patchwork many different types of fabrics with various printing techniques and upcycle and repurpose fabrics. These are made into a range of artwear - unique, reversible, one size garments in simple cuts such as kimono-style robes, jackets and coats, wraparound skirts, utility kilts and dresses.
I have exhibited and sold my work internationally, such as New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo and Istanbul and work to commission as well as selling my wares at fairs and in galleries and retailers. I am the founder of an Artists and Makers co-operative, local to Dumfries and Galloway, with three shop locations and fifty members.
I enjoy community art and I’ve worked locally with groups in community centres, one-to-one mentoring at my studio, and in schools and have mentored many young people through schemes such as Upland Emerge, Craft Council Hothouse and WASPS.
I collaborate with other artists, take on artist residencies and do artist talks and workshops. Recently I was Artist in Residence with Crichton Carbon Centre’s Peatland Connections project. This involved 9 months investigating carbon for textiles, dyeing with peatland plants and peat and creating garments, a film, writings and drawings to be exhibited at my eleventh Spring Fling in 2024.

Workshops:

  • Carers Session Design your own unique silk scarf with Morag Macpherson.
  • Design your own fabric and make a unique silk scarf with Morag Macpherson.
  • Design your own fabric for a unique silk scarf with Morag Macpherson
Morag Paterson
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Morag Paterson

Description:

Morag Paterson is an award-winning, professional landscape photographic artist based both in Italy and Scotland. Her striking imagery is widely published and has been exhibited around the world.

Mostly Ghostly
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Mostly Ghostly

Description:

Mostly Ghostly are local award winning creators of a unique range of ghost and local history tours. Dumfries and Galloway’s first paranormal investigation team and creators of a range of well-researched ghost and local history tours encompassing everything from Scotland’s most haunted road to an intriguing vampire legend dating back to the 12th century. Proud winners of the 2012 & 2014 Dumfries & Galloway Life Tourism Champion Awards.

Mostly Ghostly, as our name suggests, are mainly focused on ghosts and hauntings, however we welcome reports of big cat sightings, UFOs, ostensible reincarnation and many other fascinating aspects of the paranormal and supernatural. United by our close friendships and determination to explore and evidence the unknown, we have all experienced something, both personally and collectively, that we cannot find a current explanation for.

The team delivers exciting tours showcasing elements unique to our region including developing a ghost walk for Dumfries. With our existing passion for ghost stories and local studies combined with a desire to promote tourism and culture in the region, it seemed like a natural progression. Our philosophy is that a good story well told needs little in the way of artistic license; each event takes months of careful research to create a truly authentic experience.

Nimaya Lemal
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Nimaya Lemal
Dietary:
Vegan

Description:

Nimaya (she/her) recently completed her MLitt in Environment, Culture, & Communication (University of Glasgow), where she wrote her dissertation on ‘play’ as an ethic for environmental communicators. She has a B.A. in Comparative Literature (Middlebury College); her thesis asked how Kafka’s short stories complicate a German literary fascination with Native Americans. She is now a freelance editor and nonfiction writer with particular interest in how young people are re-writing humanness in a time of anthropogenic crisis. She has been published in the Modernist Review, Oxford Review of Books, was the recipient of this year’s Kirkpatrick Dobie prize for creative writing (University of Glasgow), and has a piece coming out in English (Oxford University Press) this spring. She is also a part of Shambellie House's Young Creatives group.

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Paula Rafferty
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Paula Rafferty

Description:

Paula has been sewing since she was a small child, she was taught by her mum and started making clothes for her Sindy Doll.

Paula was born and grew up in Dundalk, Co. Louth before moving to study Fashion Design at Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) from 1987-1991 and after running her own business for a few years, specializing in stretch and sequined fabrics, she returned to college to train as an Art teacher  (1995-1996). After finishing college Paula worked with retirement groups, which taught her the value of lifelong learning. By accident Paula started working in Limerick Prison in 1998 and has been teaching there full time since. Paula has exhibited and presented lectures on Prison Art and Textiles many times here in Ireland and also in Mexico, Spain, Poland, The Netherlands, Scotland and Canada. 

Paula joined the Irish Patchwork Society in 2002 and has since made hundreds of quilts, both large and small. When asked Paula says that she makes two types of quilts: Art Quilts for exhibition and Therapy Quilts to keep her sane!

With her Art Quilts works in series, several at the same time, until she feels that she has exhausted the theme. Paula loves any messy techniques such as dyeing, printing, stamping, anything where she can get her hands dirty and revel in that childlike joy of playing with colour. Collage, fabric transfer and printing are other favoured techniques, anything that involves modern technology, what could be more fun than mixing ancient skills like hand embroidery with modern digitally printed images, right? 

Therapy Quilts are usually utilitarian in nature and composed of simple shapes like squares or strips, which are cut in large amounts and randomly sewn together. Paula finds the act of repetitive sewing calms and keeps her sane during wintertime or when going through emotional stress. Traditional patchwork and quilting techniques act as a gateway to our past and are an amazing meditative process and Paula adores the challenge of designing quilt blocks and patterns for students and groups. 

Paula exhibits her art quilts and teaches patchwork and quilted techniques internationally, both as a member of various international groups and as a solo artist. Paula’s work has been featured in many international patchwork and quilting magazines including; Quilting Arts, Quilt Modern, British Patchwork & Quilting and Patchwork Professional.

“Quilting has opened up the world to me, brought so many wonderful people into my life and taught me so much. I look forward to the wonderful techniques and skills that I have yet to learn.”

Groups Paula is a member of:

  • IPS Irish Patchwork Society 
  • Quilters Guild of Ireland
  • Quilters Guild of the British Isles (specialist groups contemporary and modern)   
  • SAQA Studio Art Quilt Associates
  • Voyage (an online textile group
  • 20Perspectives
Ricky Nolan
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Ricky Nolan

Description:

A photographer since 1978, Ricky was educated at Wallace Hall Academy, Closeburn and moved to Middlebrough to study Interior Design with Fine Art & Graphic Design. While undertaking these studies he found that he enjoyed the creativity afforded by the photography components on the course and subsequently studied photography for a further four years in Newcastle and in Leeds.

On qualifying his first professional job was anything but creative, working for Cleveland Constabulary in evidential photography in their Scientific Aids Department. This did however provide a strong technical grounding in a number of specialist forms of film based photography and processes which would prove beneficial to future employment.

From this technical grounding and returning to Scotland, Ricky then worked in photographic laboratory management and training in Glasgow before taking up a Senior Photographer post with the Scottish Office working in video production, editing, multi-media and television for 4 years before being invited by Dumfries & Galloway College to deliver photography as a service to their fine art and newly established graphic design programmes. Living in Lochmaben this seemed an ideal opportunity and Ricky subsequently developed and ran a new set of photography courses to HND level that received numerous best practice evaluations by reviewers. He also retained a significant folio of private practice.

Ricky subsequently headed up George Street School of Art in Dumfries and the Creative Industries Section.

As a curriculum manager and curriculum designer he developed a host of innovative programmes for the college as he was keen to see interdisciplinary activities in the creative arts. He left in 2017 so that he could focus on his own photographic work.

Ricky is a member of the AMO3BA Illustration & Photography Collective and a Shambellie House Trustee. He will tell you that just as importantly, he is the bass player with local bands Six Hands and Eight Hands.

Workshops:

  • Photography - Exploring the Wonderful Worlds of Cyanotypes and Argyrotypes
Rosemary Murray
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Rosemary Murray

Description:

Rosemary learnt to sew at a young age using her grandmother’s 1910 hand turned Singer sewing machine and has been making garments ever since.

She has been teaching sewing and dressmaking in her Haberdashery shop in Dumfries for 9 years. Rosemary’s aim is to teach people the skills to enable them to create and complete a project that fits well and they will wear.

Rosi Robinson
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Rosi Robinson

Description:

I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. When I was at school, I pushed Art aside to concentrate more on academic subjects. It was only when I was introduced to batik in 1970, whilst I was studying for a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education in Bristol, U.K., that I realised that I had missed out on my artistic education.

For the first eight years of my teaching career, I was lucky to be appointed the Art specialist in a number of primary schools in Bristol, UK. I taught drawing, painting, collage, weaving, batik and pottery but it was the technique of batik that really captivated me. It has a magic that no other technique offers. So I started to exhibit my batik paintings in exhibitions and at craft fairs.

I then moved to Sussex, UK and in 1986 I joined both the Sussex Guild and Batik Guild. I'm now the Vice Chair and Overseas Representative of the Batik Guild www.batikguild.org.uk and founder of 'International Year of Batik 2024-5’ - www.batikinternational.com

From January 1986 - July 2013, I was Head of Art at Cumnor House School in Danehill, Sussex. Many of my students won art awards to their senior schools as well as awards in national competitions. I taught all kinds of Art to children aged 5 - 13, but I made a point of introducing every child to batik so they could explore the many possibilities that this wonderful technique has to offer.

Now that I am retired, I don't know how I managed to combine my own batik work with full-time teaching. Thank goodness for school holidays! I am still based in the UK, but spend the summers in Nova Scotia, Canada, (my maternal grandmother was Nova Scotian) and a few months each year in Maryland, USA.

I have been fortunate to exhibit throughout the world, including Canada, USA, China, Japan, Indonesia, Europe, and of course in the UK. I have lectured and taught workshops in Japan, China, UK, Europe, USA and Canada and my work is in private collections worldwide. I have written three books on batik, including 'Creative Batik' (Search Press, 2001/2016). Please go to my Publications page for more information about my magazine articles, books and DVD. In the last 20 years I've had four solo exhibitions in the Foyer of the Barbican Library, Barbican Centre, London, UK. During 2014 and 2015, I taught batik workshops to teachers throughout the UK for Specialist Crafts. I taught a two-day workshop at the Bath Textile Summer School in 2017, and have been invited to teach a three-day workshop at the summer school again on August 15th - 17th, 2022. 

I am now concentrating on advancing my personal batik work. I lecture, give batik demonstrations, teach workshops to adults and children and participate in exhibitions throughout the world. It's amazing how batik continues to be my passion. Retirement? What retirement?! Find me at https://rosirobinson.com/

Workshops:

  • Discover Magic of Batik with Rosi Robinson (Two Day Workshop)
Simon Lamb
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Simon Lamb

Description:

Simon Lamb is a poet, performer and storyteller. With a background in teaching, he works extensively in schools to ignite and inspire young learners by sharing his passion for poetry.

He currently lives in Ayrshire, where he is the writer-in-residence at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (2022–25) and the poet-in-residence at Eglinton Country Park (2023).

His debut collection of poetry is “A Passing On of Shells”, published by Scallywag Press and illustrated by former UK Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell. It has been nominated for The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2024.

Stacie Amelia
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Stacie Amelia

Description:

Stacie Amelia Holistic & Creative Therapies

Stacie hosts alternative & holistic wellbeing services. She is a Psychotherapist who prioritises Sound and Creative Therapy, Loving Kindness compassion based Present Awareness practices (relaxation/meditation). Focusing on bringing the present moment into balance.

Stacie is trained in the above as well as Somatic Healing, Breathwork, and aromatherapy. She has 24 years experience working directly with people from different life backgrounds. All of her work is diversity aware and inclusive as well as trauma informed. Stacie is a graduate of the Mindfulness Meditation Teachers Programme (MMTCP) trained and mentored by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Stacie is also a certified and accredited Mindfulness Meditation Mentor and Supervisor internationally.

Workshops:

  • Awakening to Spring - A Day of Self-Care and Relaxation
  • Finding Gratitude in Autumn - A Day of Reflection and Calm
  • Litha (Summer Solstice) Sound Bath, Nature Connection & Art Retreat - Connect with your inner light
  • Sound Healing for Lughnasadh, A Nature & Art Retreat - Creativity, connection, and gratitude.
  • Summer Inspired Relaxation- Celebrating your inner light.
Sybil Williamson
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Sybil Williamson

Description:

Sybil, from Solway Silver is a silver clay artist.  Silver clay is a manufactured product made from tiny particles of pure silver which are suspended in an organic binder.  The piece is formed in clay then fired in a kiln.  During the firing process the binder burns off and the particles of silver sinter into a solid piece.  This piece is 99.9% pure silver.  Sybil comments that, ‘…some sort of magic goes on in the kiln, it’s like alchemy’.  Her work is inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of Dumfries and Galloway.  She has a background in education and enjoys sharing her silver clay techniques through workshops.


Workshops:

  • Carers Session Design your own unique silk scarf with Morag Macpherson.
  • Design your own fabric and make a unique silk scarf with Morag Macpherson.
  • Design your own fabric for a unique silk scarf with Morag Macpherson
  • Keum-boo: Japanese Silver Clay
  • Temari Balls: Japanese Folk Art
Ted Leeming
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Ted Leeming

Description:

I am drawn to the beauty of the natural world and the interactions and consequences of human activities therein. To the tensions, harmonies and imbalances that exist between biodiversity, climate, community, society & commercial interests.  To immersive projects exploring place and the details that lie within.

Wendy Sweetman
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Wendy Sweetman

Description:

My name is Wendy and I am a patchwork designer and tutor. Patchwork has been my hobby since I was a teenager but became my full time occupation a few years ago after careers in science and teaching. I now work and teach in a fabric shop in Staffordshire; The Corner Patch, and release patterns under my own design studio name - Sweetpatches.  My designs include bags, cushions, table runners, quilts and even a patchwork jacket!  I aim for a relaxed, supportive and encouraging atmosphere in my workshops and love seeing that smile on people’s faces when they can’t help but be proud of their own unique, handcrafted item at the end of the day.  With new connections in Dumfries and Galloway, I'm looking forward to working in the area.

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