Painting to Textiles with Alison
Immerse in the color and textures of Scotland’s wild places or inspiring objects in the studio to develop imaginative and creative works with textile artist Alison. You can choose to be in Alison's studio in Edinburgh close to the sea or in her cabin in the Highlands of Scotland near Balmoral.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1410
- Additional guest(s) (max 3)
- USD $840
Meet the Artist
Alison trained as a painter but discovered a passion for textiles through years of teaching art. Her work is collected internationally and appears in many books and periodicals. She was first inspired by textiles at a weaving exhibition in Edinburgh, when she saw an extra surface element added to work that she sometimes describes as the fourth dimension. Since then, she has been combining both textiles and paint in her work.
Sketchbooks play an important role in her practice to gather inspiration from the beauty of the Scottish landscape that surrounds her. Her work is often highly colored and figurative but combines abstract elements from nature. She uses many techniques in her practice, including collage with hand dyed fabrics, where she uses printed paper to build up complex surfaces and then embellishes them further with machine and hand stitch. Machine embroidery is her favorite technique and Alison always feels more confident with a sewing machine. She believes that encouragement is the key to creativity and people learn through experimentation in a relaxed atmosphere.
VAWAA Includes:
- Developing an original textile piece based on your drawing or painting inspired by nature.
- Sketching with mixed media indoors and outdoors.
- Developing ideas creatively - literal or abstract.
- Using paper and fabric to resolve an idea.
- Experimenting with print, paint, and stitching by hand or machine.
- All materials and equipment.
- Possible Edinburgh mystery tour or mountain hike with Alison's husband depending on availability.
Explore Edinburgh, Scotland
Experience art, history, and beauty in Scotland’s capital city, a place rich with culture and small enough to explore on foot. Find inspiration in the breathtaking vistas, or by the works of Scottish artists in the many museums and galleries in town. Stroll through the historic fishing village of Newhaven, with a stop to draw passing ships and quaint houses. At Starbank Gardens, a beautiful nineteenth century garden, the picturesque sea views make for a stimulating locale for painting and stitching. Wander down the Royal Mile, which runs through the heart of Scotland's Old Town, from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, past ancient alleyways and St Giles' Cathedral. Descend "The Mound," a wonderful road which takes you down onto Prince's Street and into the New Town, with its beautiful Georgian Houses. The climb up Arthur’s Seat, the mountainous remains of an ancient volcano, will be rewarded with a glorious view of Edinburgh and all that inspires Alison in the Scottish Highlands.
Additional Details
The best time to visit Edinburgh is in May, when days are long, comfortably warm, and relatively rain-free. Though Scotland has a reputation for being wet and rainy, The East Coast has a fairly dry climate - cold and bright in Winter, not too hot in Summer and lovely in the Fall. Edinburgh is famous for its International Festival which takes place in the Summer.
Guest Reviews
Shireen B., United States
Alison and her husband were so fun! Every morning I made my way to their house and chatted with them over coffee. We then went up to work in Alison's colorful studio. I absolutely adored Alison's mixed media approach to her art, and was really excited to make something together. As we worked she assessed how much I knew about sewing and we were able to start creating a piece of art. The process w Read more
