Lovely Pigeon is the alter ego of designer-maker Kirsty Thomas. She is a printmaker, illustrator and upcycler. She loves doodling, junk-shopping, making lists (and losing them again), mid-century modern, old tea towels, flea markets, sewing, folk, beaches, wine, growing vegetables, text, pop up shops, wally dogs… and pigeons.

We caught up with Kirsty to ask her more about what she does and what she plans to do next.

What’s your background and what inspired you to become a designer?

I originally trained in Design Studies and worked within the fashion industry for several years. I owned a street wear fashion label for three years before deciding to retrain as an art teacher.  I got itchy feet again when I moved to Scotland 4 years ago. I started creating jewellery pieces, drawing more and teaching myself to print. From those experiments, Lovely Pigeon was born.

I am inspired by anything and everything but particularly like the simplicity of mid century art and design and the work of people like Charles and Ray Eames and Lucienne and Robin Day. I also like anything that makes me smile.

How would you describe your customers?

I think my customer base is quite wide – young, crafty-design types, ladies who lunch and lots of people in between. I would love to develop a stronger male customer base – there seems to be a real lack of craft based products directed at men.

What is your favourite piece from your collection?

Eek, that’s a difficult one! The Mr Pigeon lino print was one of the first pieces of print I did and it still makes me smiles every time I see it.  He has a very cheeky look in his eye!

What are the highlights of your career so far?

Working with some of the best independent design shops in the UK and internationally and galleries is a privilege and it is always great when new stockists are interested in your work.  However seeing my name in Elle Decoration is probably one of the high points.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Lovely Pigeon’s 2012 collection is a bit of a departure and features lots of colour, shape and pattern. I’m also hoping to extend my home wares and stationery collections and start experimenting with different print techniques, laser cutting and textile printing.

Thank you.

Lovely Pigeon Fantail Bird Brooch; available from FCA&C's online shop @ £5.50

Syrah Jay (aka Sarah Jacobs) is a Jewellery/Textile Designer based near St Andrews, Fife.  All of her work is made by hand from 100% wool, and then embroidered by hand too. Virtually every piece of jewellery she makes is unique and special.

We met up with Syrah Jay to ask her more about her work and what she plans to do next.

What’s your background and what inspired you to become a textile designer?

I trained in printed textiles, screen printing etc. From a young age I have always enjoyed crafts from cross stitch, embroidery quilting, knitting, weaving and all kinds of printing- the list goes on.

How would you describe your customers?

People who like to make a statement and are not afraid to be individual.

What is your favourite piece from your collection?

I love to make my felt bead jewellery as no two pieces are the same so I never get bored of making them.

What are the highlights of your career so far?

Being able to teach my skills to others, I really enjoy teaching.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I am hoping to take the next step towards exhibiting at trade fairs such as Origin or Top Drawer and taking my business to the next level.

Thank you.

Syrah Jay Mini Thistle Pin; available from FCA&C's online shop @ £5.50

Jo grew up in rural Herefordshire overlooking the hillsides of the Golden Valley. Renowned for its beautiful landscape, rolling hills and idyllic villages, Herefordshire is home to many famous UK studio potters. This was inspiration to Jo as she began her first creative explorations in clay, working intuitively with the material, even in these early days.

Her interest progressed and she gained her first degree from Bath School of Art and Design where she learnt a significant breadth of the ceramic art form.  She graduated in 2002 and was recently asked to exhibit with selected alumni in an exhibition celebrating the Ceramics course at Bath.

Soon after graduating from her first degree, Jo set up a studio and continued her practice. During this time she was a resident artist at Portsmouth University and exhibited widely within the UK.  Recognising her need to further her education she was given a place at the Royal College of Art in 2005 to complete a Masters.

After graduating Jo set up her London studio where she continues to make and develop her work. Jo exhibits UK wide and internationally, continuing to make all her work by hand.

We chatted with Jo to find out more about her ceramic work and what she plans to do next.

What’s your background and what inspired you to become a ceramics designer?

I have been working with clay since I was a teenager, being lucky enough to have a ceramics department at school and growing up in Herefordshire, the home of many well—known studio potters like Mick Casson, my awareness of ceramics as a craft form was there from an early age.  With this as my backdrop I worked with clay intuitively, always enjoying the creative capacity that it afforded me but also the structural concerns that arose in the making.  I never meant to still be working with the medium now at that point but I just knew I loved to make things with it, it’s simply a journey that hasn’t ended yet and won’t for a long time to come hopefully!

How would you describe your customers?

My customers tend to be culturally aware, particularly of the visual arts and crafts.

Certain designs like the Zsa Zsa Vase, Barbara Vases or Mona Vase, because they are investment pieces, are often bought by individuals who could be described as collectors.

What is your favourite piece from your collection?

I find this question too hard!  I have a love/hate relationship with the Zsa Zsa Vase as it feels appropriately sculptural and functional but also gives me the greatest hardship technically because I’m asking the porcelain to do something it shouldn’t really be doing.

What are the highlights of your career so far?

In 2011 I was granted Arts Council funding for an exhibition I was curating called Talking In Clay.  The show also included a weeklong schedule of events by the exhibitors and was organised and promoted by me.  This was an amazing challenge and I felt very proud to be entrusted with it by the Arts Council, Hereford Council and Hereford Courtyard Arts Centre.

Another highlight of 2011 was being invited to exhibit my work at the Designers and Makers Shop at Somerset House on The Strand.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I’m currently working on some new designs, furthering my range of vases but also some designs based on the spoon/ladle format.  I am also developing some surface designs based on the London Plane tree as well as a range of jewellery for Summer 2012.

Thank you.

Porcelain Zsa Zsa Vase by Jo Davies; on sale from FCA&C's shop @ £320

What’s your background and what inspired you to become a textile designer?

Weaving is my passion.  This started at school, which prompted my desire to obtain an honours degree in Textile Design.  I then gained work experience within the textile industry. Placements have included working at Salt, London, where I assisted with fabric finishing and the organisation of textile collections, orders and exhibition PR.

On graduation, I accepted the Designer in Residence position at the Art College which enabled me to set up my own label business as a hand woven textile designer.

How would you describe your customers?

Typically, customers are those who love something unique and special.  These include:

• Consumers with an eye for complementary products that make them stand out from the crowd.
• Customers who regularly wear fashion accessories that might wish to become more experimental.
• Consumers who appreciate fine and well-designed quality products.

What is your favourite piece from your collection?

My Reflection Scarves -I love their movement and delicate shimmer which creates glamorous looks for day and eveningwear.

What are the highlights of your career so far?

• Having my wovens exhibited nationally and sold in specialist outlets throughout the UK.  The expansion into England including coverage extending in to Shropshire, Suffolk, Lancashire and London.
• Working as the Graduate Textile Artist on the ‘Making Moves’ project with Birmingham City Council and Craftspace.
• Being a finalist in the Scottish Variety Awards as ‘Best New Scottish Designer’.
• Receiving a PSYBT Jolomo Arts and Crafts Award in March 2011.
• Responses to my work at Exhibitions and trade shows such as the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

• Being an established brand with an emphasis on quality and innovation.  Creating a prominent place in the network of British based Designers and Weavers.
• Collaborating with a UK mill than can manufacture specially designed collections.
• Having products stocked and in demand in high end department stores and boutiques such as Liberty in London.
• Products being available to purchase online.  Selling through reputable internet vehicles such as velvetboutique.co.uk and notonthehighstreet.com and theshopfloorproject.com.

Thank you.

Lauren Crawford 'Reflection' scarf in teal; £68 from FCA&C's shop

This is a fab website, selling all manner of objects, based around the notion of individually designed ‘walls’. We’ve worked with a variety of UK makers to put our wall together, including YOKE, Lovely Pigeon, Jane Gowans, Katie Lees, Jo Davies, Mitchell & Black, Lyle McCance, Syrah Jay, and Hilary Grant and work includes jewellery, textiles, ceramics, paper items and wood – all very covetable and lovely! For a sneaky peak at what our wall looks like, here’s a pic…and keep looking out here for when it goes live and available for sale!

Treat Supermarket Sarah wall

If you missed this excellent activity, don’t fear as there are two more to go.  This Saturday, Fife based artist Sarah Jacobs (Syrah Jay) will be leading the workshop, showing everyone how to make their own felt beads which can then be made into colourful jewellery.  The following Saturday (10 March), Dundee based textile artist Louise Kirby will be at The Vic making individually decorated tote bags.

Both these workshops will run from 12 noon until 2pm and the cost per session is £15 including all materials and refreshments.  (It should also be noted that these are aimed at adults, not children!).  If you’d like to book for either (or both!), please go to Eventbrite.

Treat workshop with Lovely Pigeon

Treat workshop with Lovely Pigeon

Treat workshop with Lovely Pigeon

FCA&C will be closing its office doors on Friday 23 December at 4pm and will re-open for business on Thur 5 January at 9.30am.  We wish everyone a happy festive season and look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Have a magical festive season from FCA&C

If you missed this first Treat event, don’t despair as there’s another two to go – and you can catch work by Mitchell & Black at the next one:  join Jan Shelley & Friends at her Weft textile studio on the front at Pittenweem next Thursday evening (8 December, 6-9pm), and join Lovely Pigeon & Friends in Cellardyke at St Anns, Fowler Street the following Thursday (15 December, 6-9pm).  Drop in for a festive drink and a nibble, a chat with the artists, and some Christmas shopping!

Dot Sim’s  studio on Tay Street, Newport on Tay is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 17 December (10.30am-5.30pm).

Dot Sim's studio in Newport on Tay

Installation of first sculpture by Nick Evans

The second part of Placement opens to the public tomorrow at 10.30am and runs daily until 20 November.  There are also still spaces on the symposium accompanying it on Sat 5 November - email FCA&C (or phone 01334 474610) if you’d like to book a space.  Four of the participating artists will be speaking and the day – including lunch and refreshments – is completely free!  Find a booking form on the Placement page of FCA&C’s website.

For younger visitors, there’s a host of drop-in activities available in the Activity Space next door to the gallery.

She will divide her time into 2 sessions – 11am-12 noon and 1-2pm – and weave some wonderful stories from Claire Curneen’s gold tipped trees, Laura Ford’s dolorous donkey and David Shrigley’s outsize boots – for a start!  The sessions are aimed at children aged between 4 and 10 years and there’s no cost, but booking is required as places are limited (tel St Andrews Museum 01334 659380).  What better way to spend an hour or two on a chill October day?

More about the exhibition on FCA&C’s website programme page or Facebook page.

Judy Paterson in 'full flow'