At Makers Shop and Gallery autistic artists and makers and individuals with learning disabilities have a space to showcase their talents and creativity.
The gallery enables individuals to develop skills in retail and customer service, and assist in hanging and curating exhibitions of work. In addition to promoting enterprise opportunities, the gallery at Makers provides a platform for artists and makers from across Scottish Autism to share their voice through creative expression.
Our Makers customers will find unique gifts and hand crafted products, and can buy prints of the artwork on display in our gallery. ‘Buy social’ to support our makers and the Scottish Autism services that support them.
Art Opportunities is a Scottish Autism day and vocational service offering a creative environment for autistic people to express themselves through arts and crafts based activities. Individuals are supported to explore their ideas and influences through their artwork, whilst discovering talents and skills in a range of crafts.
Our artists craft and create in a broad range of mediums including stained and fused glass, textiles, painting, and modelling.
At Makers Shop and Gallery those who access Art Opportunities have a platform for showcasing their creative talents and selling their crafts to support future creative projects.
As well as finding their individual voice through their art, people who access Art Opportunities can participate in collaborative projects and group themes.
Art Opportunities’ Christopher Marley reflects on the social and group working aspects of the service.
‘It’s not just the arts and crafts. We do theme work; modern art, Scottish themes and others. It could cover all sorts like music and landscapes.
It’s very sociable. People with disabilities don’t always have a place for expression. [Art Opportunities] allows much more free expression. It gives them a voice– I like that. It’s very relaxing.’
Our current exhibition by Art Opportunities explores ‘Images of Scotland’. From iconic images of Irn Bru cans to expressive illustrations of Highland cows, the artists that access the service have produced work in paint, textiles and fused glass exploring this theme. Visit our Gallery at Makers to see more.
Rachel is a talented artist who enjoys creating colourful images and designs in a range of mediums.
Expressive with paint and colour, and detail focused at crafts. Rachel is particularly skilled at translating her designs into colourful textiles. Rachel is influenced by the enjoyment of creating pattern and visual rhythms in her artwork.
