Edinburgh Colony of Artists

Welcome to A Colony of Artists.

....a little history by Jo Macsween resident since 1994

Adversity can lead to great things when a group of builders found themselves locked out of their building sites due to a dispute about working hours, their three month ban in 1861 lead to some creative thinking - the formation of The Edinburgh Co-operative Building Company Ltd (ECBC). This group comprised many different trades - stone masons, plasterers, plumbers and others sympathetic to their aims. Central to its mission was a co-operative spirit that was reflected both in its adoption of the beehive motif and in the ultimate design of the houses constructed - built in rows, flat upon each other, like a colony of bees.

While the building lock out provided the opportunity for tradesmen to form a company, it was the poor state of housing in the old town which was the underlying stimulus for the foundation of the ECBC whose stated intention was to build houses for sale to working people. By 1911 over 2000 houses had been constructed on 11 sites. Many were owned by artisan classes in an era when mortgages did not exist

The earliest residents of the colonies were a skilled class of workers/artisan builders and this remained the largest occupational group for much of the 20th Century. The Abbeyhill colonies in particular had a number of railway workers due to the proximity of the area to the line. Persistence of inhabitants was also a key feature of colony life which made for stable neighbourhoods. The design of the buildings did result in a certain amount of over looking and gossiping but this feature has also contributed to its sense of identity and community that is quite unique in Edinburgh. Nowadays as older residents move on, a newer and often younger generation are moving in who are less likely to live here for the rest of their lives. However, this group of artists has met and come together as a community our colony predecessors would be proud of. I hope you enjoy their work.

To find out more contact The Colony of Artists at info@colony-of-artists.com

Welcome to A Colony of Artists. ....a little history by Jo Macsween resident since 1994 Adversity can lead to great things when a group of builders found themselves locked out of their building sites due to a dispute about working hours, their three month ban in 1861 lead to some creative thinking - the formation of The Edinburgh Co-operative Building Company Ltd (ECBC). This group comprised many different trades - stone masons, plasterers, plumbers and others sympathetic to their aims. Central to its mission was a co-operative spirit that was reflected both in its adoption of the beehive motif and in the ultimate design of the houses constructed - built in rows, flat upon each other, like a colony of bees. While the building lock out provided the opportunity for tradesmen to form a company, it was the poor state of housing in the old town which was the underlying stimulus for the foundation of the ECBC whose stated intention was to build houses for sale to working people. By 1911 over 2000 houses had been constructed on 11 sites. Many were owned by artisan classes in an era when mortgages did not exist The earliest residents of the colonies were a skilled class of workers/artisan builders and this remained the largest occupational group for much of the 20th Century. The Abbeyhill colonies in particular had a number of railway workers due to the proximity of the area to the line. Persistence of inhabitants was also a key feature of colony life which made for stable neighbourhoods. The design of the buildings did result in a certain amount of over looking and gossiping but this feature has also contributed to its sense of identity and community that is quite unique in Edinburgh. Nowadays as older residents move on, a newer and often younger generation are moving in who are less likely to live here for the rest of their lives. However, this group of artists has met and come together as a community our colony predecessors would be proud of. I hope you enjoy their work. To find out more contact The Colony of Artists at info@colony-of-artists.com
Exhibition September 2009 Current & Past Exhibitions
Charlotte Intihar	Charlotte has lived in the colonies for nine years, having moved to Edinburgh from London. She started making felt about 3 years ago at an evening class and fell in love with the medium. She makes corsages, cushion covers, bags and some flat pictures. Lately she has been experimenting with 3 dimensional shapes. Her current project is based around ideas on childbearing and the female form and related expectations and experiences.
Jackie Finlayson	Jackie has recently moved to the Abbeyhill Colonies. A practicing Art Therapist, she is delighted to focus on her own work for this exhibition. originaly training as a graphic artist, her work explores "nature" through delicate line and colour and more recently through photography.
Paul Macdonald	Paul Macdonald is a professional sword maker, specialising in creating high quality functional reproductions of historical European edged weaponry. As well as making, Macdonald also teaches the use of various swords and edged weapons in reviving European martial arts as a living tradition today. You are warmly invited to visit and learn more about rare craftsmanship and skills of sword making and see the working process from idea to finished product.
Stella Christie	Studied at Glasgow School of Art
Lami Mulvey	Lami has lived in the Abbeyhill Colonies for about 30 years, and says she isn’t likely to leave - ever. Lami studied tapestry at Art College in Edinburgh, but was later attracted to wood engraving because of the extremely fine detail that can be carved on wood, then printed on paper. Her prints are small and intricate and represent the human form, portraits, boats and natural images.
Lee Robertson	Since taking up photography Lee has had the opportunity to try a wide spectrum of the medium, however he always returns to his passion for landscapes. “Traditional with a twist” his work tries to capture the drama and the beauty in the nature that surrounds us.
Jules Weston	Jules’ photographs evoke a feeling about places, everyday views, wild and man made habitats and nature. Sometimes that feeling is a memory of something briefly glimpsed or half remembered, an unfinished narrative, a lost journey with a time and structure of its own.
Alan McGowan & Brigid Collins	Alan and Brigid both studied at Edinburgh College of Art. As well as painting, Brigid currently makes objects and book forms, inspired by poetry, while Alan does drawings and paintings of figures. Alan also teaches drawing at Edinburgh College of Art and Brigid teaches at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. Both are Professional Members of Visual Arts Scotland.
Gill Smith	Gill is a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and has lived in the Abbeyhill colonies since 1988. Gill had exhibited throughout the UK and her paintings have been reproduced by international card companies. The use of rich colour and the interplay of shapes are the main focus of Gill’s paintings.
Alan Ramsay	Architectural models are still regarded as one of the best methods of presenting design ideas to planning authorities, clients, investors and the public.
Robbie O'Donnell	Robbie O'Donnell is in the second year of his media technology course at Stevenson College. The exhibition demonstartes his keen eye for photography. Robbie's work is supported by that of his family and friends which includes paintings, photographs and willow sculpture
Denise Horn
William Mazur	William paints primarily in watercolour and acrylic. Nature is the at the heart of William’s work and he delights in depicting the moods and seasons of nature as it effects the landscape, and is continually inspired by the changing light, colour texture and form. William’s most recent works have largely concentrated on Scotland’s varying landscapes but also includes paintings and studies from France. Originally from Canada, William has resided in the Colonies since 1998. Click on Mazart to e-mail William
Keith Brame	Photography exploring the areas where trees peter out and the mountains begin. The transition zone from woodland to alpine and mountain scrub.