Studio secrets : KAZ's guide to making the most of your visit to Coburg House open studios event...x
OPEN STUDIOS
Our Coburg House Open Studios have been running for around 18 years and get bigger and better each time!
Open studios are my favourite events to take part in. It’s a very different experience than visiting a gallery or market. They offer the chance for you to come and see where we make our work, ask us questions about the process, discover new artists, and find unique pieces to take home with you.
With four floors, housing 50 studios, and over 55 artists participating in the event, this place is MASSIVE! You might just be wondering ‘Where do I start?’
Not to worry, I’ve made a little plan for you to work your way strategically around the building, and I’ve picked a few of my favourite artists and makers you MUST visit on your way around!
image by The Illustrated Lab
STICK TO THE PLAN!
When you arrive at our lovely Gallery shop entrance don’t let yourself get distracted! Stick to the plan!
If you’re visiting on Friday night, you’ll be welcomed by the sounds of William Ancell and his acoustic guitar. Grab yourself a wee drink. We are sponsored this time by ‘Leith Spirits’ and ‘Moonwake beer,’ then make your way straight up the stairs to the very top of the building in the loft. To be specific head straight to studio 46 in the loft where you’ll find ME!
Of course, I was going to recommend you visit me first! But there is another reason too. Starting at the top of the building and working your way down makes sense, you’re less likely to miss things than if you randomly charge around the building.
KAZ ROBERTSON
STUDIO 46 - THE LOFT
Colour-popping palettes combined with a signature inlay of mismatching spotty and stripy designs create KAZ’s vibrant collections.
Magnetic bangles stacked together, reversible necklaces and square rings can all be found when you visit.
You don’t have to go far to find my next favourite maker ‘Donna Barry’ as we share a studio!
DONNA BARRY
STUDIO 46 - THE LOFT
Donna designs and creates beautiful botanical jewellery collections inspired by her love of flowers, plants, foliage and repetitive patterns found in nature. Working with recycled silver & gold wherever she can, she overlaps petal shapes into regular and asymmetrical patterns and then fuses them with heat, to create textured sheets. By working and forming the metal in various ways, Donna produces elegant pieces of jewellery resembling patterns and objects in nature. Her work is romantic, feminine and very light and easy to wear.
Donna also runs exclusive wedding ring workshops at her studio at Coburg House for over thirteen years.
Sticking with the loft, you’ll also find our very own ‘mad scientist,’ illustrator Jenni Colquhoun.
JENNI COLQUHOUN
STUDIO 48 - THE LOFT
The Illustrated Lab is a creative studio run by scientific illustrator Jennifer Colquhoun. The Illustrated Lab creates detailed, design-led drawings to visually solve your problems, and to inject science into your everyday life.
Make sure you explore the rest of the loft with its open-plan area and a few studios feeding off the sides too. Here you’ll find more jewellers, illustrators and painters.
You can then head down the stairs to the second floor where you’ll find my next shout-outs!
First up! Catherine Aitken and her gorgeous bags and accessories!
CATHERINE AITKEN
STUDIO 35 - SECOND FLOOR
Catherine is a designer/maker creating a range of accessories from Harris Tweeds, Japanese Cottons, Leather and she also has a Zero Waste collection using up all the scraps of fabric as well as recycling vintage Harris Tweed Jackets.
Then you have to venture to the fascinating studio of Rosemary Walker!
ROSEMARY WALKER
STUDIO 42 - SECOND FLOOR
In her work, Rosemary uses a wide variety of media and disciplines and is particularly interested in the interactions between found objects, man and nature - such as weathering, chemicals, and unusual juxtapositions. The unexpectedness of the results both excites and motivates her.
Rosemary Walker’s current interest focuses mainly on metal - brass and copper which she patinates and rusty iron from which she prints and develops sculptural forms. Also mixed papers with which the garden snails collaborate with her to create unusual surfaces!
After you’ve ducked and dived through all the quirky studios on the second floor it’s time to head down the next flight of stairs to the gallery floor.
If you’re visiting on Saturday and Sunday this is the perfect time to have a little pit stop. It’s hard work looking (and buying) all the beautiful things in this building. Domenico’s pop-up cafe will get you sorted with super tasty sandwiches and cakes!
Back to the plan again now you’ve recharged. Next up is Stephanie Rew in studio 12b, be prepared to be amazed!
STEPHANIE REW
STUDIO 12 B - GALLERY FLOOR
Stephanie is a figurative painter in the realist style. The theatrical costume has always been a favoured theme, and she has been using couture garments along with the kimono to add drama and design to her art.
Her inspirations come from a lifelong love of the Ukiyo-e Japanese wood-cut prints as well as the works of Caravaggio, Whistler and Sargent. She is influenced by the Baroque style of oil painting and utilises a combination of Old Masters’ techniques with her own. Chiaroscuro created by glazing techniques is important to the finished article.
Mette Fruergaard-Jensen is next on my hit list, her boxes are just stunning!
METTE FRUERGAARD-JENSEN
STUDIO 23 - GALLERY FLOOR
Mette creates boxes in wood, metal and resin. Preferred wood is elm, walnut, African black wood and other hard wood. The metal is copper, brass or aluminium. Mette’s materials are not precious, but by refining and combining them, she hopes to produce a precious piece of work.
Once you’re done exploring all the treasures on the gallery floor, including our shop and gallery space, you might think you’re done! But no, there’s more talent hiding just below!
Follow the stairs down to the basement floor to find my last two favourites. Not only is their work fab but you’ll get immersed in their studio spaces too!
JAMES DONALD
STUDIO 7 - THE BASEMENT
James is a hand weaver who predominantly uses Merino Lambswool in his work. His business PickOne was established in 1997 and he’s had a studio at Coburg Art Studios for close to 20 years.
Current collections revolve around exploring the stitched mark within woven fabric without actually stitching into the fabric. The "stitched" marks are woven in as part of the weaving process. He takes inspiration + references from the Japanese stitching technique called Sashiko + has developed a method of "stitched" mark-making through supplementary warp + wefts.
As part of his creative practice, James also teaches 2 evening classes a week, a monthly weekend weave class, taster classes, and monthly loom rental and will shortly be launching an introduction to weaving class on a Monday afternoon.
And finally, pop into the magical world of Bryony Knox!
BRYONY KNOX
STUDIO 6 - THE BASEMENT
Bryony designs sculptures and silverware with a twist, creating pieces that, on closer inspection or handling reveal an additional function. Interaction and discovery of unexpected movement, or flashes of colour and texture, inspire Bryony, bringing to life the wonderful characters and creatures of myth and fable.
From elegant decanters to boxes with secrets, each individual piece of Bryony's work is fashioned and embellished using the techniques of repousse and chasing, often with enamel or gilded details.
And then you’re done! I hope you’ve enjoyed your wee KAZ studio tour!
We’re all looking forward to welcoming you into our studios for the weekend although there is a LOT to sort, tidy and finish before we open!
And now there’s no excuse for not venturing down into Leith as the trams are eventually up and running!
From Princes Street to the Shore, the tram will take around 15 minutes and then you just have a short 8-minute walk to the studios!
See you soon!
KAZ x