Creative businesses from North East Scotland to check out when Christmas shopping
We have selected some of our favourite local businesses to help you find wonderful gifts this Christmas.
At Leopard Arts we love supporting creative businesses from North East Scotland. So we have surveyed the team for their favourite local creatives producing beautiful, inspiring, useful and thoughtful products which you can buy for yourself or your loved ones. Please share this creative gift guide to help support local businesses and share the joy of locally made products.
Little Science Co.
Dr. Heidi Gardner started Little Science Co. when, waiting for a flight back to Aberdeen from a Science conference in London, someone told her she didn’t look like a scientist. She decided to challenge that notion with a range of products promoting diversity in STEM.
“I started the business to create cute and colourful products that would signal not only that I was a scientist, but that the vast majority of scientists don’t look like Einstein. These products have now made their way all over the world, and are sparking conversations about science as we speak.”
The products include practical items such as lanyards, pin badges and stationary, all promoting diversity for people working in STEM, as well as creative pieces inspired by science such as DNA patterned Washi Tape and decorative postcards with cute patterns and inspirational messages. Visit the online store here.
Devana
Devana is an outdoor lifestyle brand, founded right here in Aberdeen. Launching earlier this year, their clothes are inspired by the local landscape: drawing on “our lives in the space between mountain and sea” to create stunning high quality pieces with Scottish materials.
Their project also does a beautiful job of platforming artists, whose work is featured on their clothing, via the blog section of their website.
The Butterworth Gallery
The Butterworth Gallery sells original artworks and prints by Howard Butterworth and his . daughter Mary, both established artists working in Scotland since 1968 and 2004, respectively. Howard is renowned for his idyllic scenes of Aberdeenshire countryside, while Mary works in acrylic to create evocative glimpses into the city and beyond.
The Butterworth Gallery exists as a physical store in Royal Deeside, in the grounds of Ballogie Estate between Banchory and Aboyne and online at thebutterworthgallery.com where you can find original pieces as well as prints available for purchase.
Seed Skateshop
Seed is Aberdeen’s only skateshop and a brilliant local source for all your skate goods and streetwear apparel. Not only do they stock all the best skatewear brands but they also have their own Seed merch. Seed do loads to support the sport in our city: from running a yearly film competition which encourages skaters to get out and tick off certain challenges on film; to relentlessly campaigning and for the rejuvenation of local skateparks. Let’s support them right back!
You can pop by their lovely shop, where they will provide you with the invaluable expertise and advice that only a local skateshop can provide. Or you can shop their website, here are a few links to get you started.
Dolly Dimple Design
Producing laser-cut acrylic jewellery, Dolly Dimple Design aka Rose Nicoll is inspired by nature and history. Her collections have included inspiration from woodlands, flowers, Alice in Wonderland, and make-up, as well as a collection of designs inspired by sewing.
You can order from the Dolly Dimple Design online shop or find a selection of the products in the Provost Skene’s House and Aberdeen Art Gallery Gift Shops.
Doric Books
Doric books are a new publisher working to support and encourage use of doric in North East Scotland. Aaron Gale and Jackie Ross have already published three children’s books with beautiful illustrations which would make a wonderful creative gift for a young family or doric speaker.
We are really excited about their project, which honours and reflects the rich language and creativity of North East Scotland. We love their ethos of sharing local voices and stories and think you will too. You can find the existing catalogue on their website.
Support local creatives
At Leopard Arts we love supporting creative businesses from North East Scotland and this gift guide is just a snapshot of the wonderful local creatives producing beautiful, useful, and thoughtful creative gifts.
Please share this creative gift guide to help support local businesses and share the joy of locally made products.