Gifted makers

The pieces I make are designed around the body; making, physically putting the piece on, observing and altering until a balance is achieved. This freedom of expression gives my work a fresh spontaneous quality.

Working directly with the material from an early stage is a key part of the design process. Drawing down both sheet and wire by hand allows me to constantly reflect on its weight and length.

Repeated links create fluidity that work in harmony with the wearer. Texture and pattern that capture and reflect the light are embossed, hammered and roll printed onto otherwise understated lines heavily influenced by plant forms and geometric shapes.

My practice evolves from my writing, the analogy is of a narrative thread which runs through everything I do. Words are the raw material, the source of inspiration which can be interpreted in many ways.

Myth, mystery and history pervade all that I make. Memories are stitched or woven into the work, the most basic crafts are all that is needed to give the ideas life, that and a vivid imagination.

My work is made largely from reused plastics, and other otherwise discarded materials that catch my eye. Each piece is constructed from individually manipulated sections and assembled to create multiple layers inspired by the textures of the Scottish landscape.

I am passionate about experimenting with materials and creating pieces which have an awareness of sustainable design, giving people the choice of meaningful objects which fit with their values.

As a child I loved working with my hands. In those days, I would make rings from paper, paste and glitter. The materials have since become precious metals, but the imagination remains that of one who finds magic in the art of jewellery.

Etruscans, Incans, flora and fauna inhabit the world of my jewellery. Simplicity and adornment are the keys to my designs.

Using floral elements as its central theme and primarily a palette of black and white, my latest work reflects and combines my interest in gardening, sewing, bold graphic woodcut / lino prints and gives a nod to mid 20th Century Design.

Fabrics are printed by myself in short runs using natural materials and items are embellished using cloth gathered from a broad range of sources – new, old, found and donated.

Aamos Designs is our unique, Shetland-based textile company specialising in contemporary woven textiles. We started the company in 2006 after graduating from the Glasgow School of Art.

We are well-known for our playful but confident use of colour and enjoy exploiting and honouring traditional techniques, to create unique and luxurious hand-woven fabrics.

stripykat was born to create fun, quirky and unique handmade bags and accessories. My Textile and Fashion Design degree allowed me to explore and develop the diversity of colour and texture, which I continue today.

I use both the traditional and cosmopolitan elements of the city as my inspiration. stripykat bags and accessories are there to be noticed, to compliment your outfit and personality. All products are totally unique, each designed, cut and sewn by me.

My work is concerned with the dynamic interplay between form and pattern and is inspired by incidental shapes, patterns and colours observed in the natural environment. The simple, considered forms are either slip cast or constructed from soft slabs of clay and painted with layers of Parian slip.

I studied at Camberwell College of Art and I have since exhibited extensively. I have work in both public and private collections both in the UK and abroad.

When I go out to take photos for my designs I’m always drawn to interesting patterns and shapes in nature, the silhouettes of trees or bold leaf shapes and the contrasts of colour and pattern.

There is something very special about making a book - transforming a pile of paper into something more - knowing that people are going to write their thoughts and ideas in it. All those possibilities…

My designs are inspired by things I see and people I meet, at home and on my travels. I am based in the Orkney Islands – a very creative place to be. I also work closely with fair-trade producers in Bangladesh and Kenya, where a range of my products are made.

I have always been fascinated by detail, and many of my designs evolve from everyday objects or things I have seen on my trips – the pattern on a porcelain tea cup, a piece of crochet work by my grandmother, tribal patterns and jewellery.

I am a Scottish glass artist who has been working professionally for over 5 years. I graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2003 and after gaining experience working with various other glassmakers I started my own company in 2004.

I work predominantly with molten glass which I blow and hot work to create my unique designs. Some pieces then require extensive cold-finishing using diamond grinding, polishing and sandblasting techniques.

The design and manufacture of my work is an interesting journey, it is a cross between inspiration and process. I gain inspiration from many things, but most importantly glass itself inspires me. Glass is a frustrating and difficult medium, but the results more than make up for it. It’s versatility offers everything my creative mind desires.

I create quirky contemporary jewellery which explores and exploits the contrast in the materials. Natural against man made, matt with gloss, smooth and fibrous. Traditional wet felting techniques are at the heart of my work.

The thrill of taking the ordinary and creating something extraordinary never fails to excite me. I strive to construct clean modern pieces that range from everyday wearable to individual art pieces not for the faint hearted.