Mhairi Allan

I am a textiles designer and maker based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Using mediums such as screen printing, digital print and stitching, I am inspired by a love of colour, shape and pattern to create consciously created homewares and accessories.

Q&A

Artist Statement

I’m a stationary collecting, orange-obsessing designer, with a calling to mid-century modern aesthetics. After graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design I worked with companies across different areas of textile design but felt disconnected from the process, as what happened after the design stage was not within my control. After moving to Aberdeenshire and having my first child I decided to start my own textile studio. Paper Houses Design is a textiles studio creating bold and stylish patterns on everyday products. Process and people are key. This means sharing craft skills, experimenting to see what is the most sustainable way to create, considering the environment when sourcing materials and pushing for a more conscious textiles industry. Scotland is flourishing thanks to the creative community and its openness to all. This is something I am proud to be part of and am growing within my practice through designing, teaching and collaborations.

What craft do you work with?

I’m a textile designer specialising in print design and embroidery. I studied print design and would say it is my first love. As well as working with screen printing I also work in digital printing and contemporary embroidery. The first craft I remember doing was a cross-stitch design when I was very little. Being creative has always been something I have pulled towards. My favourite printing technique is screen printing with an exposed pattern on a screen and my favourite stitching technique is couching.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

I thought I was interested in fashion design when I applied to art colleges until a tutor interviewing me noted that my portfolio was full of pattern and texture. They suggested textile design and when I looked in to it I fell in love with this form of craft. Textiles goes across aspects of everyone’s life, we engage with it daily. Screen printing incorporates the creative element of design but also a comforting process that you follow to achieve outcomes. The process is grounding and when you put squeegee to screen it’s something special. My favourite materials to work with are linens and silks screen printed using dye pastes. The colours that can be achieved with these pastes on these materials are beautiful and varied.

How do you start your creative process?

I need head space to be creative, so the process often starts with a wander. I’m influenced by the world around me and especially man-made structures in our environment. Once I find something that inspires me I will do some mark-making exercises, take images, pull out colours then experiment in a sketchbook to develop motifs. From this I will create a repeat pattern, usually by hand in black and white then take it in to the computer and develop it further for my main collection adding in colour. This pattern will be sampled through digital printing and when happy I will create products with the finished fabric. Then I will go back to my sketchbook and motifs to create some screen printed designs that connect to the main collection. These become more one off or small quantities, often incorporating embroidery at this stage. No matter what I create I always consider sustainability throughout the process. As a designer it is my responsibility to do this.

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

Last year I moved to Deemouth Artist Studios in Aberdeen in order to be part of a creative community, a hub where folks can find visual artists, textile designers, jewellers, ceramicists and more in one space. I went for a long time without having access to my own print table and it was very difficult to create without it. Now that I have one I could not do without it again. Access to such bulky equipment is a big stumbling block for folks taking part in a craft like printed textiles. I am growing my textiles studio to be a hub where folks can hire print table space and other equipment. Until then I am running workshops in the space as well as creating all my own work.

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

I would love to learn to screen print with natural printing inks, there is a workshop that I have my eye on. Working in knit also interests me. When at art college I had a machine knitting taster session then I had to pick between knit and print. Now I would love to work with an independent UK manufacturer to realise my prints in knit.

What have you learnt or the best advice you have received that you would like to share with fellow crafters?

Sharing craft with others and getting folks to engage with it is so important if we want it to have longevity and also for folks to understand the true cost and time of creating something. The creative industries are a perfect career route for folks or even being creative just for well-being. I work with other organisations as well as offering workshops within my studio to support these areas. Working with people, and showing them routes into the creative industries is something I am passionate about. Coming from a working-class background it was difficult for me to see how I could succeed in this industry when I first started, it felt like a gamble. But there is support out there and through sharing our crafts we can show routes and options. The best advice I have had is that craft is a well developed set of skills and like any skill you need to keep practicing and developing it. Don’t do it alone, peer to peer learning is so important, get together with other creatives and support each other.