From the historic cottage which helped kick off the career of one of the world’s greatest civil engineers to an ultra-modern distillery, Spring Fling allows visitors to see fabulous art in highly unusual settings.
The annual Spring Fling weekend will see 111 artists and makers across Dumfries and Galloway welcome the public into their studios, homes and other exhibition spaces over the Bank Holiday weekend of 23 to 25 May.
Among those selected to take part in 2026 is illuminated glass artist Shen Chökyi, whose 18th-century home near Eskdalemuir, is understood to have been the apprentice work of Thomas Telford (1757-1834).
Raised in the area by his mother Janet (following the death of his shepherd father John) Thomas worked for a local stonemason from the age of 14 before going on to an astonishing career as the builder of great bridges, tunnels, canals, harbours and roads across the UK.
Among his works in Scotland were the Caledonian Canal and the design for the town of Ullapool.
Shen, who has lived in the cottage for 20 years, has turned the interior into a magical place, filled with her colourful artworks – paintings and ceramics as well as glass.
They reflect many themes from mystical poetry and myth through to images inspired by the Golden Age of children’s book illustration.
She says: “I’m really looking forward to welcoming people to the cottage and the nearby waterfall.
“Each room will have its own theme, and right now I’m creating a secret Narnia space which visitors can reach by crawling through a fireplace at the back of my wardrobe.”
In vivid contrast four artists and makers, all new to Spring Fling, will be showing their work at the Moffat Distillery, which was founded in 2021, and is Scotland’s first wood-fired distillery.
Its stills (and biomass boiler) are fuelled by offcuts from chainsaw artist Sam Bowsher who is one of the Spring Fling group.
Sam, whose father Peter is also a chainsaw artist, has found huge success – his work is commissioned by clients worldwide. He says: “My carvings are mostly of wildlife, or of people’s pets, and are created with wood from our local hillsides.
“And it’s great that nothing goes to waste because the offcuts are brought down here to be used by the distillery.”
The distillery is a blend of the traditional and contemporary, featuring a modern and environmentally friendly design, with futuristic looking stills alongside beautiful wooden casks.
Visitors will also be able to meet illustrator Korey Patterson, whose work is often political and full of humour, and James Gough (a tattoo artist and former personal trainer), whose paintings are bold, playful, colourful and often autobiographical.
Original printmaker Nicola Wardhaugh, who sometimes uses water from the lochs her work depicts in her preparatory sketches, said of her work: “I’m very much inspired by the local countryside – where I live, the places I walk and the lochs where I love to paddleboard.”
Among the many other delightful venues are Kindar Mill, home of the renowned Archie McCall who has been a potter for over 50 years. Visitors can see Archie’s workshop and find out about the history of New Abbey’s centuries-old textile mills.
The walled garden at the magnificent Barwhillanty Estate will be hosting ceramicist Frances Ross, and the FLOCK installation which she led. The installation is a collection of 1,000 pottery birds created by school students from across the region.
Kay Ribbens, the creator of elaborate and beautiful hats, will be opening her studio at Mochrum Park House, Kirkcowan, where visitors can also walk in the gardens with their resident peacocks.
Natasha Kinsella, Events and Exhibitions Development Manager for Upland CIC which runs Spring Fling, said: “One of the reasons people love Spring Fling is that it’s such a magical mix – wonderful artists and makers, unusual venues and studios, plus the chance to explore one of Scotland’s loveliest rural regions.”
- See the Upland website at weareupland.com.
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