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I am delighted to say I have been accepted as a member of EDGE TEXTILE ARTISTS SCOTLAND. EDGE is the leading textile art group in Scotland , and it's aim is to ' promote excellence in all aspects of contemporary textile art'. There are some fantastic artists in this group, whose work I really admire, so I was very pleased in January to have been selected for the Portfollio Submission part of their application process. On the alloted wet and windy day in February we drove up

I had such a good time last year, I'm doing it again! Spring Fling is Scotland's premier Art and Craft Open Studios event and the standard of work is incredible. I'm so happy to have been selected as a participant for my second year. Last May I had a blast welcoming visitors to my house and studio...it's exhausting, but really good fun. This is an excerpt from my application form for 2026 - 'Last year was my first experience as a participating artist in Spring Fling and I lov

Returning is an exhibition of work by two artists resident in Dumfries & Galloway who each draw inspiration from the landscape and local natural environment, including the migratory birds who return every winter. Louisa Ruthven and Rosie Dobson, friends and near neighbours in Bladnoch Galloway, have worked in collaboration for this exhibition, responding to the habitat and particular geography of Caerlaverock and the Solway Coast. **PLEASE NOTE - NEW OPENING INFORMATION Due t

Join textile artist Louisa Ruthven for a calming, hands-on session inspired by Kantha embroidery and darning. Saturday 1 November, 1–3pm Sunday 2 November, 11am–1pm Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries The Crichton Bankend Rd, Dumfries DG1 4TA · No experience needed – all materials provided. To book, email murray@weareupland.com. Part of Upland made 2025 at Upland Connect, celebrating 10 years of creativity in Dumfries & Galloway. www.weareupland.com

I'm really looking forward to running this workshop so close to home during the Wigtown Book Festival 2025. Here's all the information -...

I've been selected for my first artists Open Studio

It was a real honour to have two pieces of my work selected by Upland CIC to be included in their exhibition, DECADE , at the...

What I saw when I stared at the wall.

Or 'How I Moved Back to Scotland to be an Artist' We’ve just celebrated the anniversary of The Big Move North. It’s been a whole year...

What’s it all about, Mike?’

Louisa has reinvented herself several times. After a brief spell thinking she might be a crofter's wife, she started out as an actor. Eventually she remembered that what she loved doing the most was making things, so she did a degree at Wimbledon School of Art, specialising in Theatre Costume. She worked in this industry for many years before setting up her own bespoke dressmaking business, creating unique garments for clients. Finally she became an artist. Having worked in t

You know what ‘white canvas’ syndrome is? When an artist struggles to start a painting because they are overwhelmed by a big blank white...