We have tried to compile a starting place for anyone looking for information, courses or exhibitions related to textile art. This list is by no means complete and will be updated regularly.
Information, Tutors and Workshops
Royal School of Needlework (RSN): Offering courses, degrees, talks and more.
Scottish Stitch and Textiles: The umbrella organisation of Scottish independent stitching groups and host of an annual summer school.
RSN Stitchbank: A conservation project hosted by RSN with the aim to preserve the art of hand embroidery and prevent old stitches from being forgotten. The resource is free to use and gives details of hundreds of embroidery stitches. In addition to the academic references it shows the steps in forming the stitch both as diagrams and as video clips. A fantastic reference resource to dip into.
The Embroiderers’ Guild: A charity dedicated to educating people of all ages about embroidery.
Central Scotland School of Craft: Based in Dunblane and offering classes ranging from one day workshops to week-long courses, covering a variety of crafts.
TextileArtist: A community of textile and fibre artists. The website has a host of free resources including interesting interviews with a variety of fibre artists. A monthly membership, currently £27, gives access to fortnightly online tutorials with selected tutors plus access to the back-catalogue of lessons.
Anne Brooke: Textile artist and workshop teacher from our 2022/23 curriculum, Anne offers a variety of workshops. We very warmly recommend her wonderful classes!
Deborah Campbell: Inspired by Scottish coastal locations, Deborah uses Gelli Plate mono printing, layering and stitch to produce textile pieces evocative of place. She offers a variety of workshops in locations throughout Scotland. Her Gelli printing workshop with us in the 2022/23 curriculum was a big hit!
Gillian Cooper: Gillian teaches both online and in her home studio in Balfron. She is one of the few tutors still offering City & Guilds courses in Patchwork and Quilting at both certificate and diploma levels. Over the last few years several of her students have gained sufficient merit that they have been invited to display at Knitting & Stitch Shows representing C&G! Also offered are C&G courses in Creative Sketchbooks – to be recommended.
Emily Notman: Emily specialises in surface embroidery, mixed media and contemporary textiles. She teaches in person and offers occasional online workshops.
Tartan Caledonia: A Perthshire weaving studio focused on tartan and tweed, also offering tuition.
Design Matters TV: This virtual art and craft school is run by Linda and Laura Kemshall, a mother and daughter team, who were offering pioneering video tuition in mixed media textile techniques before online learning caught on. They now have a huge library of lessons available at fantastic prices. Lessons are usually around 30 minutes and cost £2.00 to £3.00 each – highly recommended for those finding their feet in contemporary mixed media!
Hand & Lock, one of the firms who worked on robes for the recent Coronation, have recently revamped their education department. They are now offering a wide range of short online courses in many specialist embroidery techniques – to be recommended.
The Quilters’ Guild: A national organisation with an emphasis on quilting in all of it’s forms. There are many active regional groups. With the growing popularity of mixed media techniques, the divide between quilting and stitch is increasingly blurred.
Fibre Arts Take Two: This Australian online learning company are dedicated to providing in-depth fibre and mixed media courses. The courses are expensive but the quality of the video lessons and learning resources are second to none. Tutors are international and all well known in their field. Enrolment for each masterclass only opens for a few weeks to enable the tutors to engage actively with the student cohort. Once purchased, the tutorials are permanently available in the student portal. If there is a particular tutor who appeals then the courses are to be recommended.
Exhibitions, Craft Shows and Days Out
The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels
Tartan (V&A Exhibition) in Dundee
Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh is a gallery and museum for contemporary art, design and textiles in Edinburgh, built around a world-renowned tapestry studio
Verdant Works in Dundee showcases the story of Dundee’s Industrial textile and social heritage.
Dalgarven Mill in Dalgarven.
The Burrell Collection in Glasgow. Highlights include one of the most significant holdings of Chinese art in the UK, medieval treasures including stained glass, arms and armour and over 200 tapestries which rank amongst the finest in the world, and paintings by renowned French artists including Manet, Cezanne and Degas.
Beyond the Little Black Dress at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Exploring the power of black in fashion.
Paisley Thread Mill Museum in Paisley. The story of Thread Making in Paisley from its origin in 1722 to the close of the last mill in 1993.
Stanley Mills in Stanley/Perth.
The Festival of Quilts. This international event is held annually in the NEC, Birmingham and is well worth visiting.
The Knitting and Stitching Show. The main annual event is held in Alexandra Palace, London. They also travel to Harrogate and Belfast later in the year. A visit is highly recommended for the huge range of vendors, talks, workshops and gallery exhibitions. You will find resources for quilters, knitters, stitchers and mixed media interests.
The Creative Craft Show. Usually several shows each year held in Scotland.
Suppliers
George Weil. An excellent resource for all things art and fibre.
Empress Mills. An online haberdashery and quilting supply company.
The Silk Route. For all things silk – advice and fast postage of materials.
21st Century Yarns. You will be spoiled for choice with the range of hand dyed threads and fabrics.
Oliver Twists. Another excellent resource for artisan dyed threads and fabrics.
Hand & Lock Embroidery Shop. Hand & Lock are an excellent resource for specialty threads relating to Goldwork and Tambour Beading in particular.
RSN Shop. The Royal School can supply many of the requirements for fine hand embroidery, together with a wide range of books and kits.