We have these stunning pieces #instore now by our current maker of the Month - Horus. This Edinburgh based jeweller has supplied us with a wonderful collection of rings, earrings, bracelets and neck pieces, both in gold and silver!

Just another idea for Mothers Day! What about these beautifully made e wrings by Edinburgh based Joanne Garner.

Price - £46.00 each

Q and A with Kittie Jones

1              Who are you and what do you do?

I am Kittie Jones, a fine artist making drawings, paintings and prints with a strong sense of colour and design.

2            What is your main inspiration?

Much of my inspiration is taken from the natural world, which is my main subject matter. The artists I have taken inspiration from include Thomas Bewick, the fantastic 18th century wood engraver who produced one of the early books of British birds; Clifford and Rosemary Ellis who worked together to design book covers for the ground-breaking New Naturalist covers; Robert Gillmor who is a master of the lino cut and a number of other contemporary British printmakers working today – it is an exciting time to be working in the medium of print.

3            Where do you work from?

I am lucky to have a lovely big studio at Coburg House Studios in Leith. I share with a painter and enjoy being part of this friendly community with lots of different arts and crafts practices going on under one roof – including Concrete Wardrobe co-owner James Donald!

4             What do you do to relax?

Lots of things! A day out in the fresh air watching the world and drawing always leaves me feeling tired but fulfilled. I cycle regularly and I find it can get rid of a lot of everyday tension. I also watch a lot of American drama series, as a total antidote to the realities of my life!

5            Tell us something surprising about your studio space/education/life experiences.

I wrote my dissertation on medieval Spanish illuminated manuscripts!

6           Where did you study?

I completed my Foundation Course at Leith School of Art and then went on to study a combined Fine Art degree between Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh University, graduating in 2008.

7             What’s the best advice you can give to other makers or have received?

Initially you should take every opportunity that comes your way, it is a great way to test the waters, gauge responses to your work and learn quite quickly how you would do things differently next time.

8            Where do you see your creative practice going?

More experimentation with print techniques, fabric design, collaborations with other makers and writers, large scale drawings – there's lots of things I hope to do in the future.

9           Who would you like to have over for dinner?

I'd love to get a group of brilliant, creative women together round a dinner table – Beatrix Potter, Louise Bourgeois (although she'd be scary), Winifred Nicholson, Mary Newcombe and Diana Athill would be a good start!

10       What is the best thing about being an independent maker?

There is nothing better than being able to create things which people love, admire and want to live with. 

News Release: Immediate Release                                                                                                       April 2014

The Colourful Paradise of British Birds

This June, the colourful prints and paintings of Edinburgh based maker Kittie Jones are on display at Concrete Wardrobe for the latest Maker of the Month Exhibition.

Jones’ work is inspired by British nature and our relationship with it. In the last few years printmaking has formed a central part of her practice. Her screen prints depict bold and colourful characterisations of well-known British birds in their natural habitat.

The captured moment with an animal or bird when out ‘in the field’ is Jones’ starting point for a painting or screen-print.

“My work usually starts on location, often with a hot flask and my waterproof trousers, making sketches and drawings of the natural world.”

She enjoys the challenges of printmaking and the limitations it presents. Screen-printing allows her to combine bold saturated colour with softer, hand-drawn marks.

Originally from Cumbria, Jones took a Foundation Course at Leith School of Art, where she now teaches. She went on to complete a combined degree in History of Art and Fine Art (Painting) at Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh University. She regularly exhibits work in galleries and open exhibitions throughout the United Kingdom.

As Maker of the Month at Concrete Wardrobe, Jones is presenting new unframed screen prints of British Birds, greetings cards and a new tea towel design. Fiona McIntosh, co-owner of Concrete Wardrobe commented,

“Kittie Jones is passionate about her subject matter, and her colourful style creates an eye-catching visual display. Her pictures are full of life and vibrancy, depicting British birds in a fresh and unexpected way.”

Kittie Jones is on display at Concrete Wardrobe from 1^st to 30^th June 2014.

Concrete Wardrobe is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 7pm. (Sunday 12 - 5pm.)

Concrete Wardrobe 50a Broughton Street, Edinburgh EH1 3SA

ENDS

PR: Katherine Emtage. Co-Owners: James Donald & Fiona McIntosh.

We are very pleased to annonce that we at Concrete Wardrobe have just taken delivery of these hand made silver pieces by Leith, Edinburgh based jeweller Lorna Hewitt.

We have a collection of wrist pieces, cuff links and rings, which can be made to order, should we not have yopur size.

These pieces have a beautiful rich textural quality to them, which we are sure you will love as much as we do!

Edinburgh based glass artist, Ingrid Phillips has done it again with this beautifully honed and individually mouth blown glass pieces thast we have just taken delivery of, here at Concrete Wardrobe.

This series of inspired and affordably pieces are from a new range called "Alba" and we are very excited to present these pieces to you!

Just in today is new work by Edinburgh based duo Blair Sorley. Their bags and purses are getting ever more scrummy and with evocative leather colour names like conker, seashell, ground pepper and daffodil, how can we not be entranced?