Hidden treasures: Deemouth Artist Studios

From the outside, you’d never guess that a drab industrial unit on Torry’s South Esplanade East is one of the city’s most creative powerhouses. Deemouth Artist Studios houses twenty five local artists, makers and designers working in a wide variety of media. 

The studios are a hub for ceramicists including Aimee Catherine Morris, AJ Simpson, Amy Benzie, Mags Gray and Celda Mae, who also makes jewellery. 

Jewellery makers include acrylic and found object specialist Aubin Jewellery, Maria Laidlaw, silversmith and enameller Emma Louise Wilson and Megan Falconer

Artists and illustrators are well represented too, with Barbora Nemcova, Di Bumpus, illustrator and printmaker Adrian Reid of Orange-ade, and seascape specialist Val Thompson

Camban Studio and Paper Houses Design both specialise in printed textiles, while Peter at Copper, Concrete & Wood makes useful, practical objects for the home. Elaine Grant creates playful textile pieces, while Purple Heron Upholstery can breathe new life into heirloom furniture. 

On the fashion front, both Hackley and Fernweh offer hand-made bags, Helen Ruth creates luxury scarves and accessories and artist Jo Muir curates her Wardrobe Foxes collection of vintage clothing and accessories for sale. 

Two of the artists at Deemouth specialise in wood, but with radically different end-products. Luthier Jamie McCloy builds beautiful acoustic guitars, while sculptor Allan Watson produces ambiguous painted wooden forms that delight the eye and confuse the mind. 

Since these are working premises, you can’t just roll up and wander round. It’s best to check each resident’s website and make an appointment to view. There are open days throughout the year and some of the residents offer classes and workshops. Currently these include the chance to learn to make silver jewellery with Megan Falconer, a series of six hand-building ceramics classes with the Aberdeen Ceramics Studio, individual throwing or hand-building lessons with AJ Ceramics, or embroidery and textile workshops with Camban Studio. 

There are always new designers and makers joining the studios, so there’s always something fresh and interesting going on. 

Find out more at deemouthartiststudios.co.uk