Albion Expo

Edinburgh based designers Isabelle Moore and Eve Hynd are the producers of the first ever yard-wide Albion Expo. Their open studio event and pop-up exhibition at Albion Business Centre celebrates the eclectic array of multidisciplinary artists, designers and makers working in Leith. Over 30 independent creative professionals, across multiple spaces will all be publicly accessible together for the first time. This independently organised showcase is a chance to see first hand the craft and design industry within your local community and to support the continued production of locally made products.

Speaking to Local Heroes during the preparatory stages of the show Isabelle Moore says, “Eve and I are both designer makers and have a passion for connecting people. It was evident that many folk had little knowledge about the hidden gem that is Albion and the unparalleled array of skilled artists and artisans based here. Albion Business Centre is a vibrant part of Edinburgh’s creative life, however, much of the breadth of skill here lies behind closed doors ordinarily. We’ve developed this annual showcase to allow public and professionals alike unprecedented access to the artists and the spaces within where an extraordinary quality and diversity of work is created on a daily basis.”

The event is located in a cobbled yard which historically once housed James Dunbar’s soda bottling plant and is now more well known for its proximity to Hibs stadium. The multidisciplinary showcase takes place throughout the weekend of 12 and 13 November with a special opening night taking place on Friday 11 November, 6-8pm. A wide variety of scales of work, from jewellery through to architecture will be exhibited – featured disciplines include furniture design, screen printing, decorative surface design, glass art and textile design. Units 1, 3, 5, and 8 are participating alongside WASPs. A pop-up gallery will feature pieces from visual and fine artists alongside contemporary design, handmade furniture and accessories fabricated within the workshop’s exemplary woodworking facility. The collection showcases work produced across five studios, including pieces by Finbarr Lucas, who created objects during the first of a regular series of furniture residencies which began in May 2021.

Open studio tours will allow unprecedented access throughout the yard enabling visitors to engage with skilled craft practitioners. Short hands-on demonstrations and informal presentations of craft techniques and materials will be on offer from selected makers. Learn more about making ceramics from Studio Frostwood, a partnership between ceramicists Natalie J Wood and Hazel Frost; try printmaking with Jessica Crisp and Chris Sleath of Dynamo Works and explore furniture making with Oli Debenham and Sedric Craigen.

Visitors will be able to see behind the scenes at Fiona McIntosh’s Tessutti workshop where the designer hand-dyes and silk screen prints a range of distinctive fashion accessories. Furniture aficionados can head over to cabinet maker David Buchanan-Dunlop’s Lyne Studio where refined furniture and accessories for the home are created and where materials and jointing techniques take centre stage.

Participating designer Hazel Frost said: “Albion Business Centre is home to so many incredible artists, designers and makers, with such a wide range of skills. It is a privilege to be part of this community and we are looking forward to showing everyone what we do here. We are excited to open our doors and welcome people into our space to share a little of what we do as ceramic artists, as well as represent a small part of Edinburgh’s Art and Craft community”

For design lovers the Expo is a rare opportunity to meet with makers; see a variety of creative studios; engage directly in craft demonstrations; purchase objects for your home; discuss a commission or even book your spot on a craft course. For more information visit the Albion Expo instagram page.

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Albion Expo is open Sat 12 Nov, 10.30am-4.30pm, Sun 13 Nov, 12-4.30pm
Unit 5 Albion Business Centre, 78 Albion Road Edinburgh EH7 5QZ
@albion_expo