It was wonderful to welcome artists Bao-Yin Hall, Danielle Macleod, Jo Matthews, Rudy Loewe, Shehzad Jaffer and Tamsin MacArthur to SSW in August, as our second cohort of artists selected for Group Residency 2026.
Over the course of their month-long residency, the group had inductions and support in ceramics, metalwork, blacksmithing and stonework. Alongside developing their practices in the workshops & studio, the group took part in a collective programme including saunas, visits to local Pictish Stones, shared meals, BBQs, karaoke, artist sharings and peer learning. As well as trips to Findlater Castle, Sandend beach, Tap o’ Noth for eclipse viewing, Lonach Highland Games and Glenfiddich Distillery for their International Artist Residency private exhibition view.
It has been a delight to support the Group Residency artists as they experimented and developed work across the workshops, shared skills and knowledge so generously, and to join them for their epic karaoke nights.
Please come back to SSW again soon!
Below are reflections from the artists and images taken during the second Group Residency of 2026, which took place 3 – 28 August 2026.
The Group Residency artists were joined by Ecologies in the Making: Sculpting Futures artist Roy Boswell and their collaborator Vita Matiyas, and were supported by the SSW team, including Harriet Rose Morley who joined us this August as Summer Technician.
Words from the artists, images below by SSW and Rudy Loewe.
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The technicians at SSW were absolutely open, approachable, and flexible; in the past, difficult relationships with technicians have been a barrier to access for me. This relationship with the technicians was the bedrock of my experience, along with the support of the wider team.
This feels like a very significant moment in my work and life that will have a lasting legacy.
I came to SSW because I wanted to learn about sculpture in a way that would be accessible to me and it was very clear that a lot of effort has gone into making it a more accessible experience. I’m glad that there is a place I can recommend to other disabled artists. I also miss the accessible kitchen!
For the first time, I worked with clay for a sustained period of time, and I learned about using a kiln to fire ceramics and glass.
I felt supported, guided kindly, and uplifted with the huge knowledge and patience of the technicians.
I had such an amazing time at the residency.
I feel the group was put together very well; I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of folk! It helped that everyone was up for weekly karaoke too.
I had a truly wonderful time – my practice is utterly changed.
