Spring Fling's Coming Out Party

A beautiful exhibition of textiles, jewellery, ceramics and other work from Dumfries and Galloway was launched today at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

D&G|OUT features 18 leading designers and makers, all with strong links to Scotland’s south-west, who have been selected to take part in the exhibition which is open to the public from 31 January to 22 February.

Among those taking part are renowned jeweller Alison Macleod and emerging illustrator Suzi Plunkett.

Alison, like many of the other exhibitors has a national and international reputation, and her work can be seen in Contemporary Applied Arts, in London, and has been stocked and exhibited as far afield as Paris, New York, Seoul and Melbourne. 

Alison Macleod

 Alison said: “I love making jewellery from things which people never realised could be precious. I am collecting things all the time and keeping them in tins for the right moment. There is one carved mother of pearl button I have been looking at for 10 years and have only just designed to right piece of jewellery for it to go in.

“It’s great to be part of this exhibition – there is so much talent from Dumfries and Galloway and it’s fantastic that it is now being showcased outwith the region.”

Suzi is among the new generation of creative people being nurtured in Dumfries and Galloway. She graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee in 2012 before returning home to Newton Stewart and establishing her own business called Little Dot Creations.

Suzi Plunkett with some of her cushion designs and sitting in front of wallpaper by Morag Macpherson

She has already developed a range of items which includes iPhone and iPad covers, cushions, tote bags and originals prints – all using her highly distinctive style.

Suzi said: “As a child I spent a lot of time visiting my Granny’s farm in Dumfries and Galloway and loved the wildlife there. I also enjoyed the fairy tales my parents used to tell me. These have inspired my work, which is full of magical animal designs and is intended to appeal to all ages.

 “This exhibition is fantastic for me, as a young artist with a new business, to bring my work to a wider audience.”

Last night’s special preview was due to be attended by around 150 visitors, with talks by three artists and music from Glasgow-based DJ, David Barbarossa.

Ian Elder, manager of The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture added: “To have such a wealth of talent coming from Dumfries and Galloway is testament to the vibrant cultural scene in Scotland and the importance of this sector of the creative industries. We are delighted to provide a national platform for designers and makers to present their work”

Other exhibitors include

Textile and wallpaper designer Morag Macpherson, ceramicists Archie McCall, Andrew Adair, Clare Dawdry and Wendy Kershaw as well as printmaker Leo Blamire. There is also work from glassmaker Amanda Simmons and ceramicists Andy Priestman, Hannah McAndrew and Christine Smith. There is paper cut illustration by Astrid Jaekel, jewellery by Joanne Garner and Natalie Vardey, textiles by Joanne Woodcock plus work by printmakers’ Sarah Keast and Colin Blanchard.