Discover the groundbreaking exhibition in partnership with the Fleming Collection, which for the first time showcases the Scottish Colourists in the context of their European contemporaries, interrogating how this international generation of radical painters forged a new language of colour in the early 20th century. The Scottish Colourists — SJ Peploe, JD Fergusson, GL Hunter, and FCB Cadell — are widely recognised as pioneers of early 20th-century Scottish art. Often exhibited as a quartet, their work will now be shown in the company of key figures such as Matisse and Derain, as well as the Bloomsbury Group’s Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. The exhibition also explores a possible ‘Celtic’ influence through the works of Welsh artists Augustus John and John Dickson Innes, and Ireland’s Roderic O’Connor. Join us on a journey through the avant-garde movement as conventions are challenged around who should be considered the leading radical painters from 1905 to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. This exploration culminates in the formation of the Scottish Colourists as a distinct group in the 1920s and 30s, highlighting the influence of French colour and Scottish light on their work as painters of landscape, still life and interiors.

In this workshop, you will get to grips with the basics of gun tufting and make your own rug. Aimed at beginners, this intimate workshop is an introduction to the art of electric gun tufting. Learning the basic tufting techniques, this is a chance to experiment with a tufting gun and create your own contemporary rug sample. This workshop will be hosted by Edinburgh based Artist and Tutor Molly Kent, a textile artist concerned with representing mental and physical health notions through mediums such as rug tufting and weaving.

Want to learn to weave in one of the world’s leading tapestry studios? This tapestry weaving experience day at Dovecot Studios is a rare chance to learn the art of tapestry weaving at the UK’s longest running tapestry studio. Aimed at absolute beginners, the workshop will introduce traditional materials of a cotton warp and wool weft, as well as the basic skills involved in creating a woven tapestry. Experimenting with a range of techniques, you will receive expert tuition from professional weaver Fiona Hutchison, and at the end of the day you are invited to sit back and admire your tapestry with a glass of fizz. The price includes tapestry yarn and use of equipment during the workshop. If participants would like to practice and develop their new weaving skills at home, tapestry frames, yarns, and bobbins are available at Dovecot Shop where attendees will receive a 10% discount on the day of their workshop.

Emilee Lord and Karen Cecilia / Rhymes with Purple A performance duet of sonic verse, dance, and audience experience that challenges the expectations imposed upon us in society. Using co-authored text, musician and playwright Karen Cecilia, and dance and visual artist Emilee Lord, break down and name the expectations they have each combatted and assert what they chose instead. While each performer’s story differs in detail and expression, a common thread between them will ring true with others who have carved their own paths in life. The audience will be asked to consider their own ideas of “shoulds” and invited to contribute to the show’s performance that day. Audience participation, More information There may be some strong language Age category: 12+

This May, Doug Cocker, one of Scotland’s leading sculptors, unveils a dynamic new body of work at Dovecot Studios in collaboration with The Scottish Gallery. Renowned for his masterful use of wood, Cocker draws inspiration from the landscape and natural environment surrounding his converted mill studio in the heart of the Angus countryside. Marking his 80th year, the exhibition offers a rare and insightful exploration of the threads, themes and influences that have shaped his distinguished career. Known for his ability to harness the natural qualities of wood into compelling sculptural forms, Cocker’s work is testament to the power of shape, movement, and colour, often echoing music and the rhythms of the natural world in unexpected and thought-provoking ways. The installation exhibition, which is his most ambitious to date, is a celebration of a lifetime dedicated to sculptural practice.

Learn three-dimensional stitches using thread and wire with designer and embroidery specialist, Chloe Patience. On completion of the workshop, you will have made a small embroidered flower, with petals and leaves. This workshop is perfect as a follow on from the beginner embroidery workshops, or for confident stitchers. The stitches taught in this workshop will include: - Outlining with wire and closed buttonhole stitch - Filling stitch: Satin stitch, long and short - Assembling design All materials are provided.

Inspired by the still life and flower images of the Colourists and their contemporaries, artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb will take you through the process of creating a small scale, still life watercolour. Working from beautiful flowers and objects you will create a balanced composition with lively drawn details, using pen and pencil over watercolour. Tessa has led a range of workshops and is an experienced painter and etcher who also works in paper cutting. All materials are provided.

Join us for a morning crafting paper sunflowers from Italian crepe paper. Paper florist, Jen O’Flaherty will guide you step by step through the process. During the three-hours session you will get creative, learn new skills and leave with a beautiful work of art! Paper flowers are a beautiful addition to your home, they are long-lasting, allergy-free and pet safe - so make an ideal gift for friends and family. All materials are provided.

Sashiko is a traditional type of Japanese embroidery or stitching. The word Sashiko means “little stabs” in Japanese. This form of stitching is used for both decorative and functional reinforcement of cloth and clothing. It consists of rows of running stitch that build up repeated patterns. This is a simple form of stitching, and the results are very satisfying. This workshop could be done by experienced stitchers and beginners alike. Everything required will be provided. The workshop is run by an experienced teacher and textile enthusiast Sue Crawley of Sunshine Designs Dollar.

Explore the history of the world through its fascinating carpets with historian Dorothy Armstrong. From a 5th-century BCE tomb to the 20th-century collection of oil magnate J Paul Getty, antique carpets are some of the most prized textiles in the history of art. Armstrong illuminates the skill and beauty of a selection of these woven artworks, their symbolism and allure, while highlighting the differences between the powerful people who owned them and the lives of their makers. Dr Dorothy Armstrong is a historian of material culture, currently based at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. She specialises in the carpets of Asia and the roles they play in their places of production, consumption, and display. Her career includes research at the Royal College of Art, Victoria & Albert Museum and the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and London SOAS. Her current book is Threads of Empire: A History of the World in Twelve Carpets (Weidenfeld and Nicholson) This talk celebrates the display of two new Dovecot artworks at V&A Dundee – The Garden Carpet and The Whitburgh Garden Carpet – created for the exhibition Garden Futures: Designing with Nature (from 17 May 2025).

Join Florist Lottie Longman to discover how colour and the landscape of East Lothian inform her work. The Scottish Colourists exhibition provides a particular context for looking at flowers through their paintings. Lottie will describe how their work captures a wider interest in floristry in the early 20th century, from artists and interior decorators alike. She will also touch on how the seasons and sustainability are key elements in contemporary floral arrangements. Talk starts at 6pm with complimentary exhibition entry beforehand, from 5pm. Lottie Longman is a florist based in East Lothian and has recently been awarded a royal warrant for floristry. Lottie Longman Floral Design offers a wide range of services from small intimate weddings to large seasonal workshops and bespoke events.

Dr Jones: The Extinction Tour After 3.5 billion years, Dr David Jones has evolved –– research biologist by day, stand-up comedian by night. He’s set himself the gargantuan challenge of telling the complete story of life on Earth. In one hour. Can he squeeze the origins of life, the evolution of millions of species, the extinction of millions more, and Homo sapiens’ rise to dominance, into a 60-minute show? Probably not. But it’s still very funny. Warning: Contains scenes of death, genetic drift and existential dread. Audience participation, More information Contains gratuitous scenes of species extinction. Age category: 14+

Trophy Wife / Rhymes with Purple Ivy and Jones, two deadbeat, dead-end 20-somethings are looking for a way out. Ivy knows that suicide is the answer but doesn’t want to die alone. Jones is cool with being dead, but doesn’t want to die a virgin. Four going on five tries in and they're still breathing; I guess sometimes the universe has other plans for you. As Ivy’s frustration mounts and their tenuous relationship degrades, a violent solution finally materialises. What follows is a pitch-black comedy about escaping your ugly, rotten, nasty, little life by finding a gun and finally pulling the trigger. Contains distressing or potentially triggering themes, Scenes of violence, Strong language/swearing, More information Scenes of vomiting. Age category: 16+

Ikea Museum's Magical Patterns exhibition comes to Edinburgh, celebrating 60 years of innovative textile design. Magical Patterns explores six decades of groundbreaking textile design by Ikea. The exhibition features 180 iconic fabrics that showcase the rich history of the Swedish furniture retailer's commitment to innovation, collaboration, and experimental design. From the early days of bold patterns introduced by textile artists Bitten Højmark and Inger Nilsson, to the revolutionary works of the Swedish design collective 10-gruppen, Magical Patterns highlights how Ikea has supported the creative visions of some of the most influential textile designers, including Zandra Rhodes, Marimekko, and many others. The exhibition provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process that has defined the iconic patterns of Ikea. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the playful and vibrant designs that have shaped Swedish design, from the famous stripy RANDIG BANAN to the bold, colourful ANNIKEN broccoli motif. Featuring both vintage and contemporary fabrics, Magical Patterns offers a unique opportunity to experience how design trends and cultural movements have influenced the textile collection from Ikea. Join us on an exploration of winding patterns, explosive colours and bold combinations. You can weave your way through some familiar friends, and quite literally get a feel for the fabric of history. Play around and create your own pattern combinations in all kinds of colours in our pop-up design studio. With every ticket you purchase, you are playing a vital role in supporting the work of Dovecot Studios and helping the preservation of the art of tapestry in Scotland. Exhibition in collaboration with the Ikea Museum.

Join Dovecot Director Celia Joicey as she traces the history of 20th century art in textiles ahead of Dovecot's major exhibition Magical Patterns in partnership with the IKEA Museum. Featuring the work of Georges Braque, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, Sonia Delaunay, Raoul Dufy, Barbara Hepworth, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Ben Nicholson and Andy Warhol. Learn about the important objects in the exhibition and how during the 20th century ordinary people were able to engage with modern art in a personal and intimate way through their clothing and home furnishings. Ticket includes entry to The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives.

Join James Knox, Director of the Fleming Collection, to discuss why the Scottish Colourists deserve wider recognition for their contribution to European art in the early 20th century. The exhibition is the first time the Colourists – FCB Cadell, SJ Peploe, JD Fergusson and GL Hunter – have been shown in the context of their European contemporaries. Ticket includes entry to The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives.

Scotland is famous for tartan, tweed, and stunning landscapes! Sue will guide you to stitch a tiny tweed and tartan textile landscape using remnants of fabrics, and vintage embroidery threads. Tweed and Tartan are two textile symbols of Scotland. They have a history and cultural importance to Scotland and to textile lovers worldwide. This workshop is an opportunity to create your own unique textile landscape using remnants of tweed, tartan and a range of upcycled fabrics, vintage thread and notions. The sessions will also cover a bit of the history of Tweed and Tartan, cover textile techniques, and suggest ideas on how to mount / use finished piece. An extensive list of suppliers and sources of further information, websites, books, sources of fabric and inspiration is also provided. All fabric and equipment supplied. No previous experience required. The workshop is run by experienced teacher and textile enthusiast Sue Crawley of Sunshine Designs Dollar.

Learn introductory hand embroidery stitches with textile designer, Chloe Patience. Using traditional hand stitches, you will learn the basics of embroidery and use contemporary, colourful and tactile effects to create an embroidered sampler. Stitched coverd in the workshop will include: Chain Whipped Satin Long and short Jacobean couching Couching Amish plush-work This workshop is aimed at beginners or intermediate hand stitchers looking to refresh skills and approaches. The workshop is full of different approaches to hand embroidery which you can continue to use in your developing embroidery work. All materials are provided.

Learn how to use four simple stitches to paint with threads, creating your own floral embroidery piece. Lucy Freeman will teach you an expressive style, using colour blending and shading to achieve a painterly look perfect for flowers. During the workshop you will sew a sampler hoop of the basic stitches, and with Lucy's guidance, you will create your own unique floral design. There will be a wide variety of colours, fabric and templates available. Lucy’s embroidery artwork will also be on display throughout the workshop for inspiration. Great for beginners and practised stitchers looking to try something new! All materials are provided.

Scotland is famous for tartan, tweed, and stunning landscapes! Sue will guide you to stitch a tiny tweed and tartan textile landscape using remnants of fabrics, and vintage embroidery threads. Tweed and Tartan are two textile symbols of Scotland. They have a history and cultural importance to Scotland and to textile lovers worldwide. This workshop is an opportunity to create your own unique textile landscape using remnants of tweed, tartan and a range of upcycled fabrics, vintage thread and notions. The sessions will also cover a bit of the history of Tweed and Tartan, cover textile techniques, and suggest ideas on how to mount / use finished piece. An extensive list of suppliers and sources of further information, websites, books, sources of fabric and inspiration is also provided. All fabric and equipment supplied. No previous experience required.

Join sculptor Doug Cocker on the opening day of his exhibition as he discusses this dynamic new body of work and the themes in his practice, past and present. Doug Cocker unveils a new exhibition at Dovecot Studios in collaboration with The Scottish Gallery. Renowned for his masterful use of wood, Cocker draws inspiration from the landscape and natural environment surrounding his converted mill studio in the heart of the Angus countryside. Marking his 80th year, the exhibition offers a rare and insightful exploration of the threads, themes and influences that have shaped his distinguished career. Known for his ability to harness the natural qualities of wood into compelling sculptural forms, Cocker’s work is testament to the power of shape, movement, and colour, often echoing music and the rhythms of the natural world in unexpected and thought-provoking ways. The installation exhibition, which is his most ambitious to date, is a celebration of a lifetime dedicated to sculptural practice. Entry to The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives is included in the ticket price.

Join the Dovecot and IKEA Museum curators for an early morning talk and viewing of IKEA: Magical Patterns. Learn about the creative process behind these timeless designs, discover how the iconic Swedish store has supported experimental artists, and gain inspiration for your home. Be the first to get into “pattern mode” and explore the magic of textile design by IKEA.

Join Anna Sandberg Falk, Curator of the IKEA Museum, to discuss how IKEA has brought groundbreaking textile design into homes all over the world for the last six decades. She will touch upon how the textiles department has been a vital part of creating a strong IKEA identity, how textiles and patterns are an important part of interior design, and how the team at IKEA museum brought this exhibition together. (includes entry to IKEA: Magical Patterns)

Join Dovecot Director, Celia Joicey for a special opening weekend talk on IKEA: Magical Patterns. The exhibition highlights 180 iconic fabrics that reflect the role of IKEA in shaping Swedish design. From bold prints to playful patterns, learn how works by renowned designers like Zandra Rhodes, Marimekko, and the revolutionary Swedish collective 10-gruppen have brought exciting pattern design into homes around the world. Includes entry to IKEA: Magical Patterns.

Lachlan Goudie sets the 20th century Colourists in context as he takes you on a fast fling through 5,000 years of Scottish art. In a passionate and personal account, brimming with fascinating characters and historical events, discover how creativity shaped Scotland’s past, its culture and its destiny. Lachlan will reveal how Scotland’s artists and craftsmen created work that influenced and responded to the aesthetic movements transforming the global course of art history. It’s a tale of radicals and visionaries, artists with an international mind-set and a bold sense of their own cultural background, who resolved to create work at the forefront of Western Art and culture. Lachlan Goudie is an artist, author and broadcaster who wrote and presented the landmark BBC television series ‘The Story of Scottish Art’. Ticket price includes entry to The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives after the talk.

Join art historian and journalist Susan Moore for an enlightening talk on the artist Anne Estelle Rice. Complementing Rice's artwork on display in Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives, Moore's talk explores Rice's life in Paris, her artistic practice, and her complex romantic relationship with JD Fergusson. Her research for an upcoming monograph on Rice has revealed a radical woman artist whose work has often been misunderstood, undervalued, or forgotten. Ticket price includes entry to the talk and The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives.