Article Date: 01 November 2010

Categories: Live | Visit

The creative heart of the Border landscape, its woods, wild moorlands, meandering rivers, historic towns and castle dotted coastline, lies in the studios and workshops of local artists and craftspeople: the painters, potters, wood turners, textile and glass artists.

From original paintings, drawing and prints, to sculpture, wood-carving, furniture, glass, textiles and ceramics, you’ll be spoiled for choice, whether you’re looking for a unique Christmas present, something personal for your home, or a souvenir to remember a special visit.

Galleries in the Border towns are a good place to start. The Crafters in Melrose is a cooperative of Borders artists and designers selling wares direct to the public, with guest exhibitors from the Borders and beyond. In Lauder Market Place the Flat Cat Gallery and Coffee Shop has an ever-changing exhibition of contemporary art, ceramics, sculpture, furniture and jewellery.

In Peebles, there are two galleries to visit: McHardy’s Art and Framing at Biggiesknowe, exhibiting paintings, ceramics, glass, sculpture and wood by Scottish Borders artists, and the Silkworm Gallery at Newby Court where Hilary Forbes specialises in paintings of local scenes, richly coloured pictures on silk, and figurative pieces.

The Craft House Gallery in Coldstream shows a beautiful collection of crafts and art by local makers, and the Marjoribanks Gallery exhibits contemporary and traditional art, bronzes and scultures. While in the heart of Eyemouth at St Ellas Place, the Smokehouse Gallery displays a wide selection of art, craft, jewellery and cards.

Kelso has three galleries. Eptas Arts is “run by artists for artists”, and specialises in original paintings by local artists at affordable prices. The Art House Gallery in Kelso Square can assist you in that search for the perfect picture, and the Orca Gallery in the Horsemarket shows local Scottish artwork and crafts including ceramics, jewellery, aromatics, textiles, handmade greeting cards, clocks and wildlife photographs.

The Borders radiates with jewellery. Hamish Smith on Hawick High Street has hand crafted gold and silver jewellery, to bespoke common riding designs, since 1972. Walter Blair is the 3rd generation of jewellers in Kelso Square, also specialising in watches, trophies and engravings. At Harestanes Crafts Courtyard near Ancrum Lillian Busch makes award winning gold, silver, diamond and pearl jewellery, easy to wear, simple in design, and contemporary with a hint of tradition.

Working with unusual semi-precious stones is Ann Collin in Swinton, who hand-makes original silver jewellery, and Danielle Ray in Hawick, who designs unique and bold jewellery in cast and hand-wrought sterling silver and bronze. Pat Young in Sprouston also combines gold and silver with precious and semi-precious gemstones and beads to make unique and elegant jewellery.

For ceramics, try at the Steading in Morebattle Mains, where Helen Kemp hand-models one-off ceramics in glazed earthenware, including wall sconces, boxes, bowls, candlesticks and decorative pieces. The working studio of Kinsman-Blake Ceramics at Barn House in Smailholm displays hand-thrown and painted tin glaze pottery and tiles, as well as paintings, local hardwood spoons, bespoke jewellery and furniture. Dawn Newbigging at Mersington Mill new Greenlaw hand-makes bottles, platters, dishes and decorative hanging hearts, expressing the patterns and textures found in the natural landscape.

At Harestanes Crafts Courtyard, Elizabeth Elliot hand-forms stoneware animal sculpture, bowls and vases by traditional methods: “ancient forms with a contemporary twist,” she says. Also at Harestanes is the Hunter Art and Tile Studio, where Douglas Hunter hand paints unique, richly coloured tiles, for perhaps a personal kitchen mural. Peter Lochhead at The Hirsel in Coldstream creates colourful thrown pottery and hand-pressed wall plaques, and Clair Norris at Samieston Ceramics in Jedburgh hand-crafts contemporary ceramics. Kelso Pottery at The Knowes shape, paint and fire a range of domestic stoneware, including mugs, jugs, bowls, plates, vases and baking dishes.

If you’re interested in wood, Iain McGregor in Gordon creates oak benches, tables, chairs and garden furniture. Using native hardwoods, Rob Thomson in Fountainhall, Galashiels, and Christopher Butler in Denholm design furniture made to commission, and in Wilton Dean, Hawick, Stuart Dalgleish uses local hardwoods to make clocks, bowls, mirror frames and furniture, retaining the wood’s natural features. Richard Oldale in Eyemouth turns salad bowls, platters, pot pourri and other bowls from timber sourced in the Scottish Borders. Ruth Devlin at The Heritage in Whitsome make traditional fire bellows from elm wood, leather, studs, and sometimes tartan – all the bellows are named after Scottish islands.

Caroline Marr designs handbags from selected leathers at Cuero in Harestanes Crafts Courtyard, each one lovingly crafted and made to perfection. Working with metal, Graeme Walker hot-forges large architectural pieces through to domestic furniture, lighting and garden features at Walker Forge and Design in Newton Don near Kelso. Sivi Davey is a sculptor working in the Borders at Williescrook near Jedburgh, creating garden sculptures from stoneware birdbaths and ceramic cots to wood carvings.

Lindean Mill Glass is internationally renowned for its beautifully designed contemporary tableware and collections of unique work. Amanda Mitchell’s designs and creates stained glass windows and panels at Spylaw, and Julia Linstead at The Hirsel, hand-blows crystal glassware, etched by sandblasting with unique designs drawn from nature, including fish, flowers and insects. Inga Panneels of Lilliesleaf makes contemporary architectural or sculptural glass pieces, often simple in design, with intricate detailing and rich in colour and texture.

To view paintings by Border artists, and find contact details, information and images of our other creative talents visit Crossing Borders. Some artists work from home, so you may need to call before visiting. You can also see more Border arts and crafts at Traquair, Buy Design at Harestanes, and at Scott’s Selkirk on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December.