Kitty Lambton is an award-winning textile designer who has recently been commissioned by Made.com, a global online designer furniture and homeware store, for the designs she creates out her studio in Glasgow’s East End.

Using screen-printing and digital design, Kitty creates beautiful works of abstract art which can be made into prints, cushion covers, soft furnishings and even handbags.

Scotland is on the map for sourcing young and up-and-coming designers. “Made.com found me from the New Designer award, and on Instagram: Instagram really helps new artists”, said Kitty. “They invited me to a design conference at the Barrowland when they were looking for Glasgow based designers.”

Kitty has studied in a number of places across Scotland, including Glasgow’s own School of Art. Her work was exhibited in the ‘Down in the Basement’ exhibition in the Mackintosh Building in 2014. After studying at Grey’s School of Art in Aberdeen, Kitty worked in Bangalore in the South of India, co-designing a travel range of bags and prints, and a collection of lampshades inspired by Holi, India’s festival of colour for a small business called Olie .

READ MORE:

Gregor Gibbons wife appeals on wedding anniversary

“That was my first experience of small businesses, and just learning the struggles.

“When I returned to university, I came in with these new experiences and techniques and had seen amazing things. I had so much in my head, and so much to do. I did so much screen-printing, about 12 hours a day. I developed a style, big abstract shapes and things. I started looking at inspiration, taking elements of that and making art from it, rather than plucking it out of nowhere.”

In that final year in 2018, Kitty won numerous awards for her designs including the New Designers Kalopsia Collective Associate Prize and decided to move to Glasgow.

“Glasgow is known for its contemporary art scene, and it has more opportunities than other Scottish cities,” said Kitty. “I found a lack of stimulation in Aberdeen, hard to be excited by little projects going on.

I love Glasgow for not only its art scene, but also its different areas and communities. There is a lot to see and do.

READ MORE:

Orgasm hell for widow after bungled smear nerve damage

“Coming from the rural borders, moving to Aberdeen and now moving to Glasgow is the natural progression. There are lots of artists like myself here, small groups I can be a part of and pop-up design markets and stuff. There are opportunities to sell, and a good community thing that’s going on. It has more of a ­presence here in Glasgow.”

Within six months of her move, Kitty had a solo exhibition in Tibo, a new café on Duke Street where she sold all but two of her works.

From that, she has found representation through Art Pistol, a gallery in the West End where you can purchase Kitty’s designs. Since moving, Kitty has firmly planted herself in Glasgow – even making her own print table for her East End studio.

“The East End is particularly vibrant,” Kitty says. “I love that it’s quieter, it’s dated compared to the city centre, it is up and coming but there are still shops that have been there for decades and haven’t changed.

READ MORE:

Yob admits assaulting woman during Orange walk in Glasgow

“There’s a real community feel here; whole generations have grown up and will stay here. It’s inspiring.

“For the artists in my age group, we’re the ones that are moving in to spruce it up. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but I do appreciate the East End culture and I like to be amongst it.”

Kitty may not be in Glasgow forever, but it seems that Glasgow will stay with her.

“I think that moving to Glasgow has enabled my work as an artist. My work was first shown, solo, in the East End of Glasgow. Living here has helped me in the first stages of my freelance career.”