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As we settle into autumn in another uncertain year for a lot of creative workers, we want to ensure that space is created to share more from the people who make, design, and create in our city – those whose work helps build the collaborative creative communities that make Dundee special, and shape the city’s culture.
We’ve asked eight local artists, designers and makers to share some insights into their work, what it means for them to be working in Dundee, and what could be improved to ensure a better and brighter future for creative practitioners in the city. In the spirit of collective working and ‘passing the mic’, we’ve also asked each practitioner to share other Dundee-based creatives whose work they admire, are inspired by, or just think you’d like!
I am a studio-trained ceramicist and tutor based in Dundee. My practice is mainly focused on wheel-throwing functional pieces such as mugs, plates, vases and specialised coffee ware for homes and cafes. I love clay because it teaches me to stay in the present moment, and to let go of the things that are out of my control.
I love being part of the art and design scene in Dundee. Being able to set up my studio in Dundee gave me the opportunity to be part of a community who are not only passionate about their craft but also generous with sharing knowledge and skills in ceramics. This makes the working environment very enjoyable and is highly motivating and inspirational.
Shared workspaces could be a good place to start to increase accessibility for practices that are not suitable to be done from home. Not only that, but this can also help creatives share their experiences with one another on a regular basis.
Lauren Swan’s ceramic practice is inspired by nature, mental health and well-being. She makes stunning whales of various sizes, as well as lovely wheel-thrown and coiled plant pots. I am a huge admirer of her ceramic style and work ethic, and she has been a great mentor of mine since starting my own practice. She contributes to Dundee Ceramics Workshop in a significant way, thus creating a nurturing community for clay creatives. @lauren.swan.ceramics
melankólia by Zsófia Jakab focuses on functional ceramicware like cups, mugs, and vases, as well as hand poured candles with custom scents. She’s hoping to capture the calm, tender moments when we stop in our running life to appreciate the small things.
Zsófia and I shared our practice space for about 2 years. Over this time, we have shared our triumphs and failures within ceramics as well as personal lives with each other. She has taught me so much about mould-making and slip casting, and her work continues to inspire me to experiment and explore various techniques within ceramics. @m_elankolia
I work as a designer for theatre and dance production and mainly design sets and costumes. Though on many productions I’m heavily involved with the light and video design as well. I love to create captivating stage environments and atmospheres that foster profound moments and connections between performers and audience. Creating magic is the goal.
Usually I’m hired by a venue or institution to design a production for them, sometimes in Scotland but more often in continental Europe. About 50% of my time I work remotely, very often from Dundee. The other 50% I spend on the ground in meeting rooms, workshops, rehearsal studios and venues, where ever that might be. Dundee is a great place to work from and come back to, recharge, digest and articulate ideas. And my husband is here!
Access to spaces like Hapworks_00 really helps me to connect with other creatives and get inputs from unexpected directions, since it’s not a curated or selected group of people sharing a space. The best and most inspiring conversations always happen in the corridor, so to speak. Spaces like Hapworks_00 can provide this.
As a costume designer it’s indispensable for me to be able to work with a seamstress and maker like Susan Doyle. She saved my number under ‘question’ on her phone, since she’s the one I reach out to if I have any question related to costume production.
Jen from All the Colour with her laser cutting service is a huge help making the model boxes of each new set design.
Website / Graphic Design Instagram / Art Instagram
I am a multidisciplinary Graphic Designer, Photographer, and Artist who graduated last year from DJCAD. I am currently working with the University of Dundee on two sustainability projects—Urban ReLeaf and Design HOPES—as a graphic designer and creative content producer. Alongside this, I collaborate with artists, musicians, clothing brands and cultural organisations on freelance projects.
Dundee is a very creative place. Its small size and strong community feel makes it easier to establish yourself than in larger cities. Networking with local talent is definitely more accessible. A lot is happening right now so that provides a lot of creatives with exciting opportunities.
Dundee recognises its strong artistic presence and offers great support. However, additional and more affordable studio spaces for practicing, creating, and exhibiting would be beneficial. Overall, I think the city provides a positive environment for creatives. We have it pretty good here.
Laurie McInally (she/her) is a Glasgow-born, Dundee-based visual artist and curator. Co-founder of the artist collective Original Copy, her practice spans sculpture, video, performance, and more to create conceptual installations that critique contemporary society. Her work is incredible and she never fails to inspire me with her concepts or her ethos, she is someone I admire greatly.
Malachy McCrimmon (they/them) is a Dundee based artist who uses glitch aesthetics to communicate different ideas and statements. I think Malachy is producing and exploring really interesting and fresh ideas; I haven’t seen anything like it in Dundee. It’s a perfect blend of contemporary subjects and traditional methods.
I am an artist who has recently graduated with a degree in Textile Design, specialising in knitted textiles. Nature is my main inspiration for my artwork where I highlight the importance of appreciating local environments. My work is playful and childlike, featuring bright, uplifting colours and bold shapes, often with sculptural elements and mixed-media.
I love being able to work in a smaller city as I’m able to connect to it more personally, especially over university, where Dundee came to feel like home to me. I am also passionate about bringing attention to arts and culture in East Scotland.
I wish there were more studio spaces available in Dundee to rent, as after graduation I’ve been struggling without the studio environment. It would be great if there was also another big art gallery to visit.
I have recently discovered the quilted works of Amy Jones and fallen in love. They feel more contemporary and organic than the traditional patchwork blankets that work with very rigid and geometric patterns. I love the loose mark-making patterns she incorporates into the fabric as well. Amy is a co-founder of the Dundee Print Collective and is a Communities Producer at V&A Dundee.
Mairi Isla is an artist and maker in Dundee working across many different media such as traditional drawing techniques, ceramics, and illustration. I enjoy her multi-disciplinary practice and how it all feels cohesive despite the difference in media, as well as the playfulness of her work. Mairi often works with community projects and has worked with a variety of organisations and clients in Dundee.
I’m a music artist hailing from Dundee, who puts a completely different spin on the term “singer/songwriter”. After several releases online and a decade of live experience under my belt, I played some of my first major festivals (Connect Festival, New Skool Rules, Rotterdam, and Eden Festival). I had my first single and upload featured LAST MINUTE on ‘BBC Introducing Future Alternative Sounds’, had it played for a second week in a row, then had my leading track from EP #2 (Turbulence) featured on ‘The guitars the star’ week. This is a major highlight and big dream of mine since I started playing music as a young boy. I have a collection of songs which showcase the different sides to me musically, showing that I won’t box himself in any specific genre, rather create something of my own nature.
Doing this in Dundee has been a journey but I’ve learned a lot and it means a lot that I am still able to perform my music to new listeners each gig I play to, busk to! Especially when people genuinely resonate with the music, it makes all the hard work worth it.
More facilities for creatives to create, network, and safe spaces to do what they love with no hindrance or barriers. Possibly music courses in Dundee so people wouldn’t have to travel outwith Dundee for music education.
Brandyn Murphy (Barber, Stylist, Educator): I am sharing Brandyn’s work because he has excelled quite rapidly in a very short time. He’s has shown what it is to truly graft at a new craft, and turn it into a very stable living. He also plays drums incredibly well!
Euan Walker (DJ, Artist, Musician, Art Designer): I am sharing Euan’s work because he’s proven on multiple occasions that if he puts his mind to something he will do it, and excel at it too. He has a lot very gifted talents with more to be discovered in the near future.
I’m a multidisciplinary artist working across drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. There’s a focus on character design in what I make, and I take a lot of inspiration from depictions of Gods, Spirits, and Monsters throughout history. My work often attempts to take ideas and emotions and personify them.
Dundee is a fairly small city and I think the art scene here benefits from that – it feels like a close community of people, but at the same time it doesn’t feel insular; it’s very welcoming to new faces. There’s a strong anti-gatekeeping ethos here, which I love.
It’s such a broken-record answer but we need more physical studio spaces that are actually affordable. It’s gotten worse recently with studio price hikes – I know people who have been based in Dundee for years who have had to move their practice out of the city due to cost.
Becca (@thecornercrafts) creates work with a vibe I would describe as creepy-cute! Inspired by nature, pagan influences, and geek culture, she makes jewellery, homewares, and illustrations.
Emily (@fine.looking.piece.of.glass) is a stained glass artist whose work is similarly inspired. She makes decorative pieces which are colourful, textural and play with light in a beautiful way.
I’m a performance poet based in Dundee. I host my own events a few times a year at different venues across the city, recently I’ve been hosting events with Freya’s Wish, a community based organisation which helps out impoverished families in the city. Just last year I had my first book published.
It means a lot to me to do this as I give other up-and-coming writers/performers a safe space to practice their craft, in a non-judgemental place. The amount of unrecognised creative talent in Dundee is phenomenal.
I think more could be done at a grassroots level to help working class creatives have a platform, especially from Dundee Council and the likes of the DCA and V&A.
I recommend Taylor Dyson as she runs a monthly event called Blether in Sweet Venues in the Keiller Centre, it’s a spoken word/music night where her company (Elfie Picket) showcases two paid performers and also hosts an open mic. She’s also a brilliant poet and actor.
I also recommend Erin Farley as she is a local storyteller and librarian. She performs storytelling events and is involved in quite a few other literary type activities. She’s also the author of a book, Angus Folk Tales.
I’m a visual artist working mostly with clay, with a background in archaeology and social justice work. My work is about making material records of intangible experiences. I do a lot of creative work with children and young people, in community settings as well as in advocacy and policy settings. I also tutor in ceramics at Dundee Ceramics Workshop.
Folk in the creative scene here really care about making it a success, and that gives the city a lot of energy. It’s small enough that you meet a lot of like-minded people very easily, and that helps so much when navigating the various challenges that come with artist life.
Artists make Dundee an exciting place to be and I would love to see the council recognise this by doing more to financially support creatives via grants and studio spaces. For a city with lots of empty buildings it doesn’t seem right that artists are mostly limited to just a few (increasingly very expensive) studios.
I bought a Kate Scarlet Harvey jumper on the first day I moved to Dundee and I’ve been in love with her work ever since! Her work is gorgeous and playful and it always lifts my heart when I see it. She’s also just a massive sweetie. @katescarletdesigner
Elfie Picket are a Dundee-based theatre company duo (Taylor Dyson and Calum Kelly). They write, direct, and perform all their own work and it’s really brilliant – it sounds like a massive cliche but it’ll make you laugh AND ugly cry. They also facilitate theatre and writing workshops and put on community events. @elfiepicket
Huge thanks to everyone for taking the time to share with us! Find out more about Dundee’s creative scene in our Collectives in the City series exploring the city’s grassroots creative projects and organisations, shop local with our Makers Gift Guides, or browse our blogs for more in depth insights from the city’s creative practitioners.
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