Out of the Blue currently houses over 200 artists, arts organisations and other creative businesses at The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Abbeymount Studios, NMR Studios (Niddrie Mains), Meanwhile in Leith and Out of the Blue Music Studios. The list below is a selection illustrating the range and quality.
Moody Monday debuted to critical acclaim in 2014, led by designer and creative director Eliza Kesuma.
After graduating with a degree in Textiles & Design from Heriot-Watt University, Eliza undertook multiple freelance projects and work experience opportunities with notable design companies. In 2008, a major interiors company recruited her as part of their communication and design team.
Noticing a niche in the interiors market for distinctive designs that challenged traditional creative concepts, Eliza began developing a signature style that was innovative, stylish and luxurious. By embracing individuality, she strives to subvert people’s expectations of interior design with her highly original and provocative collections.
Moody Monday’s core philosophy that beauty can come from the unlikeliest of places underpins each design, product and project Eliza creates. Her ‘Secret Music Collection’, inspired by the hidden inner workings of an abandoned musical organ, produced exquisitely compelling designs that received widespread praise at exhibitions across the UK.
Along with a bespoke service that tailors design concepts to fit the specific needs of clients, Moody Monday welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with innovative interior companies, global brands and businesses.
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Noise Me Up
Categories: Games Design, Music/Sound Engineering
Noise Me UpThe Out of the Blue Drill HallContact: SandyLobban
We are a team of passionate and dedicated Sound Designers and Audio Software Engineers.
We have extensive experience in the games and interactive audio industries. Whatever your project we can help make sure you stand out and connect with your audience emotionally, and in a fun and interesting way.
We are based in the cultural capital city of Edinburgh, and we can also work on location with your in-house teams.
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Orla O’Connor Casting
Categories: Casting Agencies/Actors
Orla O’Connor CastingThe Out of the Blue Drill HallContact: OrlaO’Connor
Orla is an independent Casting Director based in Edinburgh. She has worked in the industry since 2000, developing a strong, comprehensive knowledge of the finest acting talent in the UK and Ireland.
Out of the Blueprint
Categories: Arts Education, Arts Projects, Visual Arts
Out of the BlueprintThe Out of the Blue Drill Hall
I mostly make paintings, from large scale canvases, miniatures to murals, small painted sculptures to text based artworks. I explore the complicated coupling of eastern and western cultures in richly vibrant portrayals of the different autobiographical factors present in my life.
Rare Bird Media
Categories: Film Production and Film Festivals
Rare Bird MediaThe Out of the Blue Drill HallContact: RayBird
Video production services for film, tv, documentary, live events and promotion.
Ray is a professional editor/camera op who has worked in broadcast and corporate environments and is always looking to connect with the audience through engaging storytelling.
He has won a prestigious Royal Television Society Award and was Awards’ Shortlisted for two documentaries he was commissioned for, produced, shot and cut. In addition to that, he is an experienced editor on FCP, Adobe Premiere, After Effects and more. He has shot with broadcast cameras as well as DSLRs to produce a diverse catalogue of work to which he is always looking to add.
I am an illustrator and storyteller based in Edinburgh. My pictures are bright and playful. I start by painting a watery base layer with lots of texture and then later add all the fine details with coloured pencil and crayons (that’s my favourite part). I also work digitally, drawing on my iPad and collaging in handmade textures. At the moment I’m drawing lots of shells and feeling heavily inspired by seaside landscapes.
In between working on picture books and private commissions, I enjoy printmaking and painting out and about around Scotland.
I’m originally from West Yorkshire but have made my home in sunny Leith, Scotland, close to where I studied BA (hons) Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art – The University of Edinburgh. I work from my studio at Abbeymount, Out of The Blue.
Remode Collective is a Community Interest Company (CIC) set up to celebrate multicultural diversity, build new skills and explore ways to reuse textiles.
We are based in Edinburgh and we offer a range of creative workshops, classes, community projects end events, as well as collect leftover and unwanted textiles to produce handmade and unique items.
Our aim is to establish a multicultural community of crafters, designers, seamstress and tailors that come together to learn from each other, while promoting a sustainable and ethical use of skills and resources.
Robin Paine is an artist noted for original and accomplished figurative drawings and paintings. She has developed her own lexicon of imagery drawn from her interest in mythology, anthropology, social history, Art history and Natural history.
“My paintings would probably be best described as “figurative” or “realist”. I work from life whenever possible and I have found that this is essential when I’m painting people.
I have been affected by works of art from many periods, ranging from Roman Egyptian painted portraits to paintings of Gwen John, but I would also cite film (i.e. the early films of Jean Luc Godard) and photography (the German photographer August Sander) as sources of inspiration.”
Robyn Jancovich-Brown
Categories: Theatre
Robyn Jancovich-BrownThe Out of the Blue Drill Hall
Robyn is freelance producer based in Edinburgh. Since 2009 she has worked with a number of Scotland’s leading arts festivals, organisations and theatre companies.
Robyn is interested in high quality, professional work that tells stories which are currently untold and/or underrepresented on stages, as well a creating new platforms for this work to be seen and heard by diverse audiences.
Rosanna is a printmaker (lino cut) and Illustrator, primarily working within the themes of nature and storytelling. Some series she is working on are greek goddesses, reimagined bookcovers, ans the ‘surrealist garden’. She also takes print and illustration commissions, particularly for houses.
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Sarah Gray
Categories: Theatre
Sarah GrayThe Out of the Blue Drill HallContact: SarahGray
Sarah Kwan Artist is a freelance Illustrator based in Edinburgh who specialises in portraits, food illustration, design, murals and signwriting. Her most recent ‘East Meets West Series’, explores the connections between Scottish / British and Chinese culture in a fun and playful way – with decorative patterns and pops of bright colour.
She graduated with BA Hons Fine Art Drawing & Painting from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in 2008. She’s exhibited in galleries such as The Royal Scottish Academy and The Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
As well as painting portraits Sarah works with brands to create signs, chalkboards, murals, live painting events and painted window displays. Brands such as: Ruffians Barbers, The Naked Grouse, Wemyss Malts and Dram & Smoke have used her skills in their events and product launches. She is open to new commissions that include portraits, design or painting, and can help create eye-catching designs for your business or events. Please feel free to get in touch anytime to discuss a project.
Sew Ho Studios
Categories: Fashion Design/Dressmakers/Textiles
Sew Ho StudiosOut of the Blue Abbeymount StudiosContact: Kate and Nikki
Sew Ho’s specialise in clothing construction, alterations, embroidery and print for workwear, eco and upcycled uniforms, team wear, one off gifts and accessories. Kate and Nikki want to create great products while focusing on growth and wellbeing for every person involved in the process.
Shannon Tofts Photography
Categories: Photography
Shannon Tofts PhotographyOut of the Blue Abbeymount Studios
The single most important attribute a professional photographer has and a client needs, is a point of view.
It’s the product of hard graft, experience and years of passion for creating high quality, relevant, memorable and cost effective images.
I work documenting people, finished pieces and projects through photography or film, working either in my studio or on location with whatever format is appropriate.
I take attention to detail and accurate colour reproduction; clients can rest assured that their project is handled with enthusiasm and an understanding of time and budgetary constraints.
Solen Collet
Categories: Photography, Visual Arts, Writing
Solen ColletThe Out of the Blue Drill HallContact: SolenCollet
I use digital and analogue (medium format & 35mm) photography for commercial work. I photography people and the things they make, working on brand commissions, portraiture and events.
My personal work explores autonomy, emotions, memory and female desire through self portraiture, alternative processing techniques and writing.
SparkleWear
Categories: Textiles
SparkleWearOut of the Blue Abbeymount StudiosContact: IsabelLohss-O’Sullivan
SparkleWear is based at the textile studio at Abbeymount and run by Isabel Lohss-O’Sullivan. Reflective hi-vis vests made with hand screen printed materials and from upcycled garments and fabric. Using bright and reflective inks and some added shine and sparkle – from sporty to fitted, from sequins to gents’ tweeds – every piece is hand-made and completely unique. Do hi-vis in style!
Over the course of 2024 Out of the Blue will continue to offer opportunities for artists and members of the community to learn, participate and earn income.
We use the space we have developed in 6 buildings in Edinburgh for studios, workshops, classes, projects, exhibitions, social enterprises, events, clubs, music making, markets, a cafe and more.
Our all year round activity helps create the culture of the city, supporting the local economy and having positive social impact for the thousands of individuals and organisations we work with.
We would humbly accept a financial donation, however small, in support of our work.
