FOCUS Issue 9 2025

A celebration of D&G creativity and talent

Spring 2025 Features:

Silvy Weatherall Conference 25 Alex Rigg DG Life Awards Expand your Horizons Get involved with The Crannog Talent Pool Sharing is Caring Dates for your Diary Jessie M King in Kirkcudbright Tabi’s Recommended Reads

Welcome to our ninth edition of FOCUS! It’s packed with features sharing the work of our creative members and friends from all around the region. We’re proud to be working with our partners to support, nurture, and showcase the best of creativity in Dumfries and Galloway.

In this issue of FOCUS we enjoy images from our recent CONFERENCE 25.

A creative collaboration between DG Unlimited and DG Arts Festival, it was a day of friendship and connection as we expressed ourselves with song, colour and spoken word.

The team have been well travelled this Spring, enjoying the sights and sounds of exhibitions and open studios. We attended Spring Fling, DG Arts Festival, visited exhibitions at CAMPLE LINE, Gracefield, and Kirkcudbright Galleries.

Step into the wonderland of the Oceanallover costume archive! This year, for Spring Fling, Alex Riggs opened the doors to a treasure trove of handmade sculptural costumes lovingly hand made and collected over the last twenty years. We visited St Michael’s in Dumfries to see Silvy Weatherall’s unique and mesmerising, The Last Supper, re-capturing the beauty of broken but much-loved objects.

We are also announcing our first recipient of the Expand Horizons award.

Congratulations to Hagan Patterson of DMC who will be telling us how the award will help to expand his horizons.

Find a comfy spot and enjoy this edition of FOCUS. As always, we extend our warmest wishes to you, our readers, and hope for a spring that is brimming with colour, and inspiration. Here’s to a season of vibrant experiences and unforgettable moments that ignite the creative spark in all of us.

Tabi

Tabi Mudaliar, Editor of FOCUS Magazine and Creative Director of DG Unlimited.

FOCUS is a creative digital magazine brought to you by DG Unlimited, Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts. FOCUS is free to access and download from dgunlimited.org. It is published to shine a light on the creative people and projects who live and work Dumfries and Galloway or who have strong links to our region.

FOCUS magazine is brought to you thanks to the generous support of Dumfries and Galloway Council and our members, friends, and supporters.

Cover image: © Silvy Weatherall | The Last Supper | Courtesy of Phil Wilkinson © 2025

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Contents FOCUS on Silvy Weatherall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

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CONFERENCE 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 FOCUS on Alex Rigg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SPOTLIGHT DG Life Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 MEMBERS - Expand your Horizons . . . . . . . .22 GET INVOLVED with The Crannog . . . . . . . . 24 MEMBERS - Talent Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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MEMBERS - Sharing is Caring . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Dates for your Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 GALLERY - Jessie M King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tabi’s Recommended Read . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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FOCUS ON SILVY Artist, Silvy Weatherall recently exhibited her powerful series, ‘The Last Supper’ in the historic setting of St. Michael’s Church in Dumfries.

The piece consists of thirteen life sized ceramic busts constructed from broken china, approximately 22 inches high. The ceramics have either been accidentally broken or have been given to me over the years. The joins are gilded with gold leaf. The piece can be seen as a sculptural interpretation of Da Vinci (straight) or Goya’s (in the round) painting of the last supper.

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WEATHERALL

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Silvy Weatherall, who has strong ties to Dumfries, has exhibited internationally, and took the opportunity to show her work in Dumfries, something she has not done since 2022. The piece, originally exhibited in London, was in the perfect setting in the cool tranquillity of St Michael’s Church. It asked us to consider the fragility of the human experience and the hope of restoration.

We had the pleasure of spending some time with Silvy just before the exhibition opened in April this year and she took the time to have a chat and to share in her own words, her creative journey and inspiration behind the sculptures.

What a fabulous idea to exhibit at St Michael’s.

How did this come about?

“The Last Supper was pencilled in to be showing at Exeter Cathedral this year but due to ongoing building works they have had to postpone it until next year.

Fiona Lee, Development Officer for St Michael’s, heard this news and kindly asked if I’d be interested in showing at St Michael’s. I was delighted to accept.”

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Do you have connections with St Michael’s?

Rev. Gary Peacock, the minister of St Michael’s has been the minister of Irongray Kirk (our family’s parish Kirk) for several years and Fiona Lee is a good friend.

St Michael’s is significant to all in our region - it is one of the oldest places of worship in Dumfries dating back to pagan times, it has the most incredible graveyard, stained glass windows, and Robbie Burns’ mausoleum of course.

Tell our readers a little about your practice and other exhibitions.

I have exhibited all over the place. My most notable local exhibition in Dumfries was at Gracefield Arts Centre in 2022 called ‘Broken Journeys’ I exhibited a quarter size piece called ‘Drowning in a sea of tears’ which is a memorial to displaced people and refugees who have died while crossing treacherous waters in a bid for safety and a better life. This consists of 150 keys set into acrylic tear drops.

What aspects of art and creativity are you passionate about?

‘I am passionate about objects that have broken or been rendered obsolete and the stories they can tell by word association and reforming them into a new narrative.

These objects are generally destined for the dump, so my task is to give them new relevance and meaning. I look at our consumer society and general wastefulness - so much can be understood by everyday objects if you look at them differently rather than discard them.’

The exhibition was not just for art lovers but for those who are interested in the power of history and the beauty of transformation. St. Michael’s Church, with its deep local and national significance - including its connections to Robert Burns - provided the perfect setting for a unique exhibition of visually striking work.

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Silvy Weatherall, in her own words…

The origin of the idea for ‘The Last Supper’ The concept was born after my studio was flooded by heavy rain.

When clearing it out, I found several boxes of broken china in a dark and soggy corner. They had been kept for no reason in mind but more as an ever-growing collection for a ‘rainy day project’- A consequence of my hatred of throwing things away. It struck me that the flood was the rainy day I had been waiting for as I mulled over these boxes. I inspected and reminisced about these previously loved and broken household objects. As I turned the pieces over in my hand I wondered how they ended up in this box. This sculptural series evolved from a play on words and a speculation into what was the ‘last supper’ served upon them? There is also a word link between ‘bust’ - the heads and ‘bust’ - the china , as well as the physical and emotional meaning of being ‘broken’. The busts vary in character by virtue of their china, size and shape but they are all similar. The pared down shape of the head and shoulders is inspired by the shape of phrenology busts that were popular and influential in nineteenth century psychiatry. The gilded cracks and joins relate to the different compartments of the brain and character that the psychiatrists believed were so relevant at the time.

This series is also being made as a response to modern day issues surrounding mental health, self-awareness, and ageing.

Mental fragility is represented by broken china and the cracks in between. Many of our current issues centre around physical ‘airbrush’ perfection and self-identity. Here, my inspiration is the Japanese art of Kintsugi; to rejoice in, and highlight, the cracks and imperfections. These ‘imperfections’ are what make us unique.

In 1929 Hemingway published the novel “A farewell to Arms” where he discusses the universality of human pain and resilience: “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places” In 1992 Leonard Cohen released the album “the Future” which includes the song “Anthem” “Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack, a crack in everything.

That’s how the light gets in.”

About my work, I am preoccupied with objects that have ceased to function. I am an indiscriminate collector of broken or useless things. These range from smashed, chipped or cracked china, broken jewellery, rusty tools, ruined paintbrushes to redundant keys, road kill, old currency and disused electrical wire. I see potential in, and am keen to give new life to, old materials and question the act of throwing things away in our consumer society. I question functionality, death, and the history of an object, and our relationships and attachments to various things. Over the years my work has become interactive with its audience. People send me their old broken china and things that, in their eyes, have no worth but cannot be used or easily thrown away. With these materials I aim to create objects that are easy to relate to and resonate more deeply in terms of identifying, questioning, and remembering a previous use or attachment.

Silvart.co.uk Photo credits – The Last Supper, ©Phil Wilkinson, 2025.

Broken Journeys, ©Phil Wilkinson, 2022.

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Conference 25 “The DG Unlimited Conference 25 was nothing short of extraordinary!” and that’s a quote from loyal friend to DG Unlimited, long-standing member and keynote speaker, the talented Bea Last.

It was an honour to welcome all our inspirational guests, members, and friends to our day of friendship, creativity and collaboration. The community of creatives who form the DG Unlimited family is growing stronger every year. This year we partnered with our friends, DG Arts Festival.

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CONFERENCE 25 set a new benchmark for what can be achieved when creative vision meets partnership, and we share our resources! A huge thanks to our Creative Director, Tabi Mudaliar, and DG Arts Festival CEO, Simon Hart, for their creative vision and collaboration to make this year’s conference a unique and memorable event.

From the outset, the energy was palpable. The conference buzzed with excitement as artists, writers, makers, and performers gathered to form connections, create together, and have time to talk – a rare opportunity these days. Each session was designed to be a hands-on creative workshop which we could all contribute to, allowing us to talk, spend time enjoying creativity and being inspired by the wonderful guests.

There was laughter, thought-provoking discussion, and idea sharing. The delegates were a dynamic mix of seasoned creative professionals, established and emerging talents, and our DG Unlimited Board were there too to meet everyone. There was a true sense of community and diversity at CONFERENCE 25 – something we are incredibly proud of.

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Our collaboration with the DG Arts Festival lent the event an added richness. Known for its celebration of performing arts in all their forms and a champion of quality cultural experiences in our region.

Their film showing mesmerising musical performances lit up the screen. And the audience were thrilled to see the DG Unlimited film, There is a Place. Together, we created a space where art and dialogue seamlessly intertwined to reflect our joint commitment to inspiring change and fostering creativity in our sector in Dumfries and Galloway.

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Thanks to Bea Last, Jonathan Jolly, Kate Howard, Iain Gardner, and Katie Ailes for their warmth, creative talents, and infectious enthusiasm. Jonathan helped us turn ceramic mugs into a gallery of usable artworks. Iain guided us through hand drawn animation, and we all had a shot of drawing an animated film which we can’t wait to see! Kate performed a miracle, and somehow managed to get a large group of people who couldn’t sing and wouldn’t sing to be a choir! That has to be the highlight of the day and if you want to see the DG Unlimited Choir sing their hearts out, click this link – DG Unlimited Pop Up Choir. Katie Ailes helped us gather our thoughts and turn them into passionate spoken word pieces, performed at each session and at the end of the conference.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, attended, and supported this year’s conference. Special thanks to the DG Unlimited Board and Team who are all awesome! Together, we not only celebrated creativity but also laid the groundwork for future partnerships and innovations. Here’s to continuing the journey and building on the success of this unforgettable event! Enjoy some of the images from our day…

Photos by Lauren McDougall ©2025

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FOCUS on Alex Rigg

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Enter the Alternative Universe of Alex Rigg The creator of over 200 astounding and evocative costumes worn by international dancers, performers, and circus artists recently opened his collection for the public to explore – and try on! It was a rare treat to get up close to the sculptural works of art, masquerading as costumes! It was a treasure trove or colour and texture and one of many highlights around Dumfries and Galloway in this year’s Spring Fling.

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Alex Rigg, whose group Oceanallover stages spectacular performances all over the country, dressed in costume, extended a warm welcome to visitors as they entered his workshop in the hills just above Moniaive.

Browsing his collection of over 200 costumes, trying them on, seeing the craftsmanship, detail and unique blends of fabric, recycled materials, original artworks printed on fabrics, and a dazzling array of sequins, textiles resembling snakeskin, and all manner of glorious hats and head gear! All who visited where tempted into trying on a costume and Alex himself capturing the moment on camera. And the accessories, from shamanistic staffs to trombones and a vivid pink loudhailer were there to help us all pose as our newly formed characters.

Over the last three decades Alex has been commissioned to create these outstanding costumes. They are all works of art and have been used in street carnivals, French circus acts, a New York dance production, Edinburgh Festival, site-specific theatrical performances and much more – all performed in towns cities and rural locations around the UK and the world.

Closer to home you may recall recently seeing an Oceanallover performance at Crawick Multiverse, for DG Arts Festival, Nithraid, and for DG Creative Wellbeing.

Many of the costumes are inspired by the natural world and by environmental issues while others have a strong sci fi and fantasy influence. Recent works have been based on reptiles shedding their skins.

Alex is an enigma. He is quietly spoken, gentle and humble, and yet, when he performs and recites his poetry his voice and aura are commanding and cannot be ignored. During a chat he said, “Everything we create is individually designed, whether it’s for our own productions or for other performers so that it will help bring their concepts to life. All are hand-made and unique.”

He didn’t mention the hours of careful work that goes into these creations. Visitors were also able to take a closer look at Alex’s drawings and notes showing the influences, origins and development of his costumes. These range from historical and cultural icons to architectural and natural forms.

Alex continued, “People often ask if there’s a chance to try them on – and it’s a real pleasure to make that wish possible at last. This is the first time I’ve opened up the collection in this way and I hope visitors have had fun browsing through the costumes, transforming themselves by trying them on, and getting pictures they can keep and show friends. I am enjoying talking to people about the costumes and sharing my work.”

The developmental work, sketching, storytelling, and worldbuilding that forms part of each costume for each character in every performance is a stunning feat of artistry and craftsmanship, by Alex and the whole Oceanallover team.

How fortunate we are to have Alex Riggs and his talent and imagination right here in Dumfries and Galloway.

Photo credits – Alex Rigg, Oceanallover ©

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SPOTLIGHT-Nominate Someone Special for the DG Life Awards We bet you know someone who quietly goes above and beyond, making a difference in their community, their workplace, or in someone else’s life? Maybe it’s the neighbour who always checks in on others, the volunteer who spends their weekends helping others, or the colleague who lifts everyone’s spirits with their unwavering kindness. Or do you know an outstanding team, or family business? Maybe you have come across a level of service that is so impressive you have to tell someone about it? Whoever comes to mind, it’s time to let their light shine. The DG Life Awards are back, and we need your help to find this year’s unsung heroes.

The DG Life Awards 2025 are all about celebrating those who make Dumfries and Galloway a better place.

It’s a chance to give a proper “thank you” to the people who often don’t seek recognition but fully deserve it. These awards aren’t just about glitz and glamour; they’re about real stories of compassion, hard work, and dedication that inspire us all.

Nominating someone is easy. Click the banner below to go to the nominations page, choose your category, and make your nomination. Remember to give it some time and thought, answer all the questions with as much detail as possible. You may know all about this awesome nominee, but the panel of judges may not.

click !

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You don’t need to be a wordsmith – just tell us who they are, what they’ve done, and why you think they deserve some well-earned recognition. Think of it like introducing them to the world and saying, “Look at this amazing person, they’re fantastic!”

What’s great is that the awards cover a range of categories – bring us your community champions and young achievers, the charities, businesses, and volunteers. From sports achievements to environmental advocates and creative stars – we want to know who deserves a prize. No matter what kind of difference they’ve made, there will be a category for them to shine.

The Culture Champion Award One of the standout categories for us, is the Culture Champion Award, proudly sponsored by DG Unlimited.

This award celebrates individuals and organisations working tirelessly to enrich the cultural scene in Dumfries and Galloway. Whether they’re preserving local heritage, creating unforgettable artistic experiences, or inspiring others through music, cinema, theatre, or literature, they deserve to be recognised.

Over the years, we’ve had some truly brilliant winners in this category: 2019 – Frank Hayes, Creative Director of For Enjoyment 2020 – No awards due to COVID 2021 – Alex McQuiston, Director of Absolute Classics 2022 – Alan Towers, Owner and Director of Annan Cinema 2023 – Mostly Ghostly, Kathleen Croney and her Team 2024 – David Thomson & Teresa Church, Annandale Distillery Each of these winners has brought something unique and invaluable to the cultural fabric of Dumfries and Galloway and continues to do so. There’s no doubt that many others out there are continuing this legacy.

Please don’t be shy. If this is you, or you know someone who deserves this award, nominate them. Maybe it’s someone in the region who’s working, volunteering, or contributing to cultural endeavours or the Cultural Life of the region. Whether in the arts, heritage, events, or creative industries, why not nominate them for the Culture Champion Award? Let’s shine a spotlight on their hard work and celebrate their passion for making this area such a vibrant place to live and work in.

We all know how much it means to feel appreciated, and your nomination could be the moment that someone finally gets the credit they deserve. Imagine their face lighting up when they find out they’ve been recognised. It’s a small gesture from you that could mean the world to them.

So, don’t wait. Take a few minutes today and nominate someone who’s made a difference. Let’s celebrate the amazing people who make Dumfries and Galloway such a special place. Head to the DG Life website for all the details – and let’s make this year’s awards unforgettable!

Click here to make your nomination

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MEMBERS – Expand Horizons Award

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EXPAND HORIZON AWARDS

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Huge congratulations to Hagen Patterson, DG Unlimited Member and Director of DMC (Dumfries Music Collective) who is the May recipient of the Expand Horizons Award. Hagen will be using his grant to attend a professional music conference in Dublin with a view to gaining insight and inspiration that he can bring back and use as he works with the team to take DMC into the future.

About our award…

Expand Horizons is DG Unlimited’s new award. It replaces the previous Innovate, Create, Cultivate Award Fund. The Awards are currently funded by DG Unlimited, supported in part by our partners Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Expand Horizons are awards of up to £500 for creatives. Specifically: 1. Young creatives from 11 – 18 years old. (Rising Star Members) 2. Emerging creatives or students 18+ (Comet Members) 3. Established practitioners or freelancers of any age working in the creative sector in Dumfries and Galloway. (Meteor Members) Applicants can be engaged in any creative practice but must be able to demonstrate exceptional talent in their chosen creative area and a clear commitment to continuing and improving their creative practice.

The Awards can be used to contribute toward the costs associated with attending galleries and exhibitions, professional events, professional development seminars or workshops, conferences, or as a contribution toward the costs required to visit other events, artists or projects anywhere in Europe.

The purpose of our Expand Horizons Award is to enable emerging creatives and creative practitioners to: • Research and develop their practice by learning from others outside of Dumfries and Galloway.

• Generate bold new ideas and potential cross-border professional connections, partnerships and potential collaborations which will be of direct benefit to the award recipient, the quality of their work, and ultimately the creative sector in Dumfries and Galloway.

• Be inspired by and learn from the work of other artists, makers, and creative projects outside Dumfries and Galloway.

• Expand creative thinking to positively influence your own approach to your creative practice or work within the creative sector.

Who can apply?

This award is open to DG Unlimited Members only. If you are not a member, we warmly invite you to become a member here.

When you apply, please tell us which membership group you are registered with. Members from the following membership tiers are eligible to apply:

Rising Stars | Comet | Meteor Applicants are required to provide strong evidence of their creative practice and development. We ask that any applications from members are for activities that are not linked to, or part of any formal education programmes or courses you are currently enrolled in or plan to enrol for. Rising Star Applications must be made by a Mentor, Teacher, Parent or Guardian.

The Awards are for creative personal development, and to encourage you to expand your horizons and look beyond this region to be creatively inspired. Applicants must currently live and work in, or have strong links with Dumfries and Galloway.

This is a rolling award and there is no set closing date.

However, please note that awards are for activities which must take place and be completed before 31st March 2026. One DG Unlimited member will be awarded with an Expanding Horizons Award per calendar month.

To find out more read about it here. Expand Horizons

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GET INVOLVED –The Crannog The Castle Douglas Development Forum is planning to transform the former outdoor centre in Lochside Park into the Crannog, a vibrant carbon-positive community resource.

The Crannog will feature tenanted workshops/studios, offices, event and exhibition spaces, band rehearsal space, craft workshops, meeting rooms, and a catering kitchen, all situated on the shores of Carlingwark Loch.

As part of this initiative, spaces will be available for rent to community groups, social enterprises, creatives, and local start-up businesses. Offices or studios will range from £200 to £500 per month, depending on size and tenant requirements, with the option for shared tenancies. To support the project’s development and demonstrate demand, we are seeking expressions of interest as part of our business plan. Workshops are expected to become available in the autumn of 2026.

If you are interested in becoming a potential tenant and supporting this community asset, please contact David Smith, our project manager, at david@ intobeing.net. Your expression of interest does not commit you to anything but ensures your involvement in the project’s progress.

Feel free to reach out to projects@ castledouglas.info to arrange a visit and learn more about our exciting project.

Read more about the Castle Douglas Development Forum.

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MEMBERS-TALENT POOL

Talent pool is our list of creative talent in the region. DG Unlimited is a member organisation, and we are all about people. We have a talent pool of creatives in this region who are available for commissions and work.

If you have any of the following skills, please join our talent pool: • Photographers • Videographers • Illustrators • Creative writers • Copywriters • Website Administrators • Poets • Visual artists of any medium • Crafts people – traditional and contemporary – of any medium • Social media specialists • Graphic designers • Multi-media creatives of all types • Creative Producers / Project Managers • Performers – Theatre, Dance, Singing, Musicians • Sound engineers • Sound and music production • Lights and SFX engineers and production • Costume, Hair, Make-up

This is not a definitive list, but these are examples of the types of talent our sector has been seeking in the last few years. All the talents listed have been opportunities shared in D&G. If you feel you have a talent to contribute to the Creative Talent Pool, join the Talent Pool without delay!

A listing on the DG Unlimited talent pool (which will adhere to GDPR and data security) is free, but you do need to be a member to be added. Sign up as a member.

If you are a member, simply drop our comms team an email to comms.dgu@gmail.com and they will send you a form to be added to the DGU Talent pool.

How does it work? It’s simple. DG Unlimited are often asked by our members, partners, public agencies, and cultural organisations to make recommendations of great creative practitioners and talented individuals we have in our region who are available for commissions or for work. In our last membership consultation you asked DG Unlimited to open up these freelance creative practitioner opportunities for all in a more equitable, fair, diverse, and inclusive way. This is one of our solutions. Join our Talent pool today!

Photo credit Aaron MacNamara © 2024

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MEMBERS-SHARING IS CARING Sharing is Caring is the DG Unlimited equipment bank of creative resources, available to borrow, free of charge, for activities, workshops, or events that you are running. To help us build up our bank of equipment, we are asking our members and partners if they have any equipment in good working order that they no longer need and would like to donate.

Do you have equipment you would be willing to have listed as available to borrow when you don’t need it? If you have any items you would like to donate or loan, let us know – we’re particularly looking for musical instruments, artists’ tools, digital equipment. Any other items of equipment that you may have in a cupboard, unused, make a brilliant start.

We already have artists’ easels, drawing tablets, pop-up gazebos, a pop-up selfie wall, lanyards, badge holders, pop-up banners, art materials, pens, pencils, stationery, IT equipment, office equipment and more. In time, as we continually develop our library of resources, our members will have a large resource from which to draw upon. It’s all about a circular economy and about sharing the load on costs for equipment.

We would love you to help us!

When you need to buy something for your work or project, once it’s used, don’t just let it sit in a cupboard, if you would like to share it, let us know what you have, and we can add it to the list. Don’t worry - we are keeping everyone secure and safe so no details or locations of where the items are stored will ever be shared, and the list is not on our website to ensure further safety.

If you have equipment you’d like to loan or donate – or need to borrow some yourself, please get in touch!

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For Enjoyment Frank Hayes Art Class

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Pavement Artists: Joan Eardley, Oscar Marzaroli and Audrey Walker, Gracefield Arts Centre Collect-Share-Enjoy On now until 28 June This exhibition features art on loan from a private collection together with selected pieces from the Gracefield permanent collection. This is the first time that many of these works have been seen outside their usual domestic setting. Collected over a long marriage, they tell the story of where, when, and what their owners have done. Involved in all aspects of the arts, there are reminders of circus, art installations and events, plus commissions or purchases that have been husband-to-wife or wife-to-husband gifts. Among an eclectic collection are well-known names from John Bellany to Wilhelmina Barns Graham, alongside artists well-known and loved in a particular place; McNeill/ Wilson have amassed both two- and three-dimensional works, and the exhibition in rooms 1-3 is a welcome chance for them to share their pleasure in them, with a complementary Gracefield collection display upstairs in rooms 4 and 5 of the gallery.

© Oscar Marzaroli

CatStrand, New Galloway Firelight Trio Thursday 5th June 2025

Photo: © Eardley Estate

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Firelight Trio is a mighty new group featuring Fatea instrumentalist of the year 2023 Gavin Marwick (fiddle), accordionist Phil Alexander (Moishe’s Bagel), and Ruth Morris (Outlander – HBO) on the beautiful Swedish Nyckelharpa. They play European music that is evocative, inventive, and endlessly exciting.

Ruth’s resonant nyckelharpa is matched by Gavin’s powerhouse fiddle, all backed up by Phil’s groovily inventive accordion and piano, in a rich tapestry of lively Swedish polskas and Scottish reels, lilting French waltzes, toe-tapping klezmer, dazzling original tunes and more. Don’t miss them!

OUTLIERS : Boo Hewerdine & Jenny Sturgeon | Friday 20th June 2025 Created between their homes in Glasgow and Shetland during 2020/21, Outliers came to signify an outlet which renowned songwriters Boo Hewerdine and Jenny Sturgeon would never have had the chance to explore otherwise. Meeting up online for an hour every week gave them an opportunity to write songs in a way they’d not done before. Recording at home and sending melodies, sounds, ideas to each other provided the space and time to experiment outside of a usual studio setting. The evolution and method of creating this music led them to settle on the name Outliers.

Visit the CatStrand ticket source page for tickets and information about What’s On.

The Guild of Players Youth Theatre, Theatre Royal Dumfries A Midsummer Nights Dream… Sort of June 25th & 26th The Guild of Players Youth Theatre proudly presents A Midsummer Nights Dream... Sort Of.

Jenny Sturgeon and Boo Hewerdine

Support our talented seniors in a fun re-telling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream... Sort Of. Get ready to see behind the scenes of making such a classic tale come to life, and laugh at the characters you meet along the way. Funds raised from this production go directly toward supporting the Guild of Players Youth Theatre, helping to sustain their weekly classes and workshops. These contributions also assist with costs for the dedicated freelancers who teach the children, as well as funding trips and external workshops that connect the kids with the wider community. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the parents, staff, volunteers, and Guild of Players members whose support has made this production possible. The Youth Theatre are incredibly excited to share the result of all their hard work—enjoy the show!

Midsteeple Box Office Keep an eye out on the listings at Midsteeple Box Office. You can browse local events, performances and buy tickets at the box office in town or via the calendar of events.

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GALLERY-JESSIE M KING Kirkcudbright Galleries has just opened with a stunning exhibition of works by the renowned ‘Glasgow Girl’ Jessie M King (1875-1949). This exhibition celebrates the 150th anniversary of King’s birth with one of the most comprehensive displays of her work for 50 years.

Over her career King mastered a variety of techniques and approaches to art and craft. Her work includes book illustrations, batik, jewellery, and ceramics.

Examples of all these approaches are on display in Kirkcudbright Galleries right now.

In 1892 Jessie M King entered the Glasgow School of Art. The strong affiliation with the Art Nouveau and Glasgow School movement can be seen in her early art, book illustrations and her jewellery designs. As a student, she received prestigious awards, including a first silver medal from the National Competition, South Kensington (1898). Her link with the Glasgow School was cemented when she was made tutor in Book Decoration and Design at Glasgow School of Art in 1899.

Throughout her life she intuitively created designs interpreting the world in her unique style. As a young teenager she recalled falling asleep on a hillside and feeling inspired by the fairies. Her joy and interest in the magical world remained a constant and is present in all her work. King also showed an eagerness to adapt to new styles throughout her lifetime and in book illustration she soon began to temper her experimental style with a more commercial naturalism and romantism and her myopic pen and ink drawings gave way to looser watercolours and coloured inks.

After the First World War Jessie M King, and her husband E.A. Taylor, became key members of Kirkcudbright’s artistic community, now known as ‘The Artists’ Town’. She was well-known and well-loved by both townsfolk and visiting artists alike, supporting both with her unrivalled energy, enthusiasm and artistic talent. Over half the works on display at Kirkcudbright are held in the nationally recognised collections there, but there are many hidden gems from private collections as well as new acquisitions some of which have not been seen in public for over 100 years.

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Entry is free and a must-see for all Jessie M King fans and arts and crafts enthusiasts.

JMK150: Jessie Marion King runs until 22 June 2025.

Kirkcudbright Galleries is open Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11.30-5.

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Tabi’s Recommended Reads My next three recommended reads all have creative themes but cover very different genre. Two memoirs - one of a life surrounded by some of the world’s most famous artists, and one of a childhood filled with the sight and sound of growing up around rock stars and musicians and eating great food. And something more cerebral too - a wonderful work about how art can and does transform our lives, inside and out.

You can buy or order all these books at Thomas Tosh in Thornhill, or any of our region’s wonderful independent bookshops. (Thomas Tosh is a ‘Business Friend’ of DG Unlimited.

It is a new initiative we are piloting, where we collaborate and form partnerships for new opportunities and projects with a local creative or cultural business. We’ll share more news on this soon.) In the meantime – pick up a book and enjoy a great read! I hope you enjoy my latest recommendations. Enjoy!

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us Susan Magsamen, Ivy Ross All too often, the arts are seen as a form of entertainment, a mere delightful indulgence. In ‘Your Brain on Art’, authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross reveal how activities like painting, dancing, expressive writing, architecture, and more, are far more than mere luxuries - they are vital to our well-being.

The book introduces us to a cultural shift we are witnessing now, where the arts promise transformative, accessible solutions for enhancing lives. Backed by compelling research, Magsamen and Ross demonstrate the profound effects of creativity: engaging in an art project for just forty-five minutes significantly lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, regardless of artistic expertise. Even one artistic experience per month can potentially add ten years to your lifespan. They delve into the cognitive benefits of playing music, the therapeutic power of tuning fork vibrations to counteract stress, and the cutting-edge applications of virtual reality in healing. Interactive exhibits, which engage all senses, dissolve barriers between art and audience, leaving lasting impressions and strengthening memory. Fascinatingly, doctors have begun prescribing museum visits to combat issues like loneliness, dementia, and other health concerns.

This book might initially feel like things we as creatives all know and believed already, but do give it a read, it is packed full of insights that are as enlightening as they are useful in our work in this creative sector of ours.

‘Your Brain on Art’ is a doorway to a revolutionary understanding of how the arts and aesthetics can reshape medical practices, foster healthier communities, and offer solace to our aching hearts in an increasingly difficult to navigate world.

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A Little Art Education Lynn Barber Journalist, writer, interviewer, and memoirist Lynn Barber, claims to have no artistic talent herself, but her love for the company of artists has shaped her stories and career. This book is packed with colourful and vivid anecdotes of her adventurous encounters in the art world. ‘A Little Art Education’ is a chronicle of the author’s unwavering passion and the friendships, rivalries, and wisdom she has gathered along this unique creative path through life. From the challenges of serving as a juror for the 2006 Turner Prize to sharing an unforgettable meal at the Hotel Meurice in Paris alongside Salvador Dali’s ocelot, Barber’s journey is amusing, fascinating, extraordinary and inspiring. Her enduring connections with luminaries like David Hockney and Tracey Emin, one of my personal artistic favourites, further illuminates her path and moves her from curious outsider to a trusted presence amongst some of the world’s some most iconic artists of the past century. I was in awe of the artists she met and spent time with. I realised as I read, how lucky I am to do similar with artists right here in Dumfries and Galloway, and Scotland.

Building on the immense success of her memoir ‘An Education’, which inspired the Oscar-nominated film starring Carey Mulligan in 2009, ‘A Little Art Education’ revisits the later chapters of Barber’s captivating life. With humour, insight, and the occasional shock, she opens a window into the heart of the art world, capturing its vibrant figures and unforgettable moments through her unique lens.

I love this book, and will cherish it for what it shares, and for what it reminded me about in my own life - the wonderful artists I work with and who have become my friends.

My Family and Other Rock Stars Tiffany Murray In a quiet corner of a Welsh field, Tiffany Murray crouches with her loyal companion, Boggle the dog, lost in daydreams of her mum’s mouthwatering moussaka, a crumble of blackberries and apples, and, if fortune favours her, a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade. A sheep’s bleat echoes nearby, the scent of hay dances in the air, and faint notes of a guitar paired with the staccato of a snare drum drift on the breeze…

Why? Because it’s the late 1970s, and Tiff calls Rockfield home. Rockfield – the legendary recording studio nestled in rural Wales. It is hallowed ground, where iconic rock albums materialised, and it forms the backdrop to an unpredictable, kaleidoscopic childhood shared in the pages of this charming memoir. From chasing wildlife across the farm to lending a small hand in her mum Joan’s culinary symphony, Tiff’s days are steeped in adventure and simplicity. Her mum, a culinary maestro, feeds waves of musicians with dishes as vibrant as the melodies they create. Amidst it all, Tiff searches for a dog, for a father, and for the steady rhythm that ties her unconventional family together.

“My Family and Other Rock Stars” is Tiff’s extraordinary memoir of growing up in a rural paradise imbued with legendary rock-and-roll magic. You will read about encounters with Freddie Mercury at the piano, Hell’s Angels recording with Lemmy, and could there be a possibility of David Bowie gracing the studio? Tiff’s life unfolds in a way where such moments feel as commonplace as playful children’s games and homework. It’s an eccentric story, of rock and pop history, hearty meals, and a childhood where music and memories collide in spectacular style. It made me laugh, and I loved the feeling of reading about the things I love – Music, Food, and Family. What a joy.

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DG Unlimited’s vision is to shine a light on the excellence which is continually demonstrated within the creative and cultural sector in Dumfries and Galloway. Our readership goes far beyond this region, we’re proud to have readers all around the UK and beyond.

DG Unlimited is the operational arm of the Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts and we are a registered Scottish charity and a membership organisation.

Visit dgunlimited.org to find out about how to become a member, to join our Talent Pool and to see the latest news and opportunities.

To contribute to FOCUS magazine, please email our FOCUS editor, Tabi Mudaliar, comms.dgu@gmail.com

Acknowledgements DG Unlimited would like to thank all the contributors and everyone who has contributed to the making of this magazine. And, to extend our gratitude to Dumfries and Galloway’s creative community for helping to make our region such a vibrant, culturally active, and creative force in Scotland.

Design: artibrand.co.uk

Photo: Self Portrait | Oceanallover | Alex Rigg © 2025