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Festival Opening Launch
Thu 3rd Sept, 6.30-8.30pm
Come and join us in celebrating the opening launch of the festival.
Hosted by one of our local sponsors, Home Sales & Lettings, the event will also open the exhibition of Minnie Scott’s exhibition, one of our two Shift and Flow awarded artists.
Minnie’s exhibition includes a series of drawings, paintings and prints in response to early films about the sea, shifting their watery imagery from one medium to another.
Places are limited. Please book using the link below.
Artist-led Walking Tours
Join our Walking Tours to meet and learn from each of the artists about their creative practices. Each route is led by a local artist or volunteer. The walks will take visitors to all the studios on the route with a chance to hear from many of the artists.
Places are limited to 12 for each walk and priced at £5 per ticket. Please book in advance to secure your place. A small number of concessionary places are also available, priced at £2.50.
Sat 5th Sept:
11am-1pm:
Walking Route 4
Led by Gaby Porter
Starting from Venue 26:
(Minnie Scott)
Home Sales & Lettings,
251 Portobello High St
2pm-4pm:
Walking Route 6
(this walk will not visit Venue 46)
Led by Gaby Porter
Starting from Venue 43:
(Judy Dale),
20 Brunstane Rd
Sun 6th Sept:
11am-1pm:
Walking Route 2
Led by Jude Nixon
Starting from Venue 10:
(Jane Chisholm),
13 Bath Street
Sat 12th Sept:
11am-1pm:
Walking Route 1
Led by Jude Nixon
Starting from Venue 1:
(Emma Bloor)
Printworks Coffee,
2 Kings Rd
2pm-4pm:
Walking Route 5
Led by Jude Nixon
Starting from Venue 34:
(Karl Stern & Javier Ventura)
71 Promenade
Sun 13th Sept:
11am-1pm:
Walking Route 3
Led by Jon Davey
Starting from Venue 19:
(Porty Connects)
Promenade fencing
by Boatyard (nr Bath St)
Cressida Trail
Looking back to Cressida,
the Tidal Octopus (2015)
Cressida Trail
Community Project
This year we take a look back to our first year of Art Walk when artist Lauren Fox created Cressida, a tidal octopus rising out of the water at the end of Bath Street beach groyne. The steel sculpture became a much-loved local icon as it shifted daily, emerging its tentacles between tide to tide.
In 2026 we have been working with pupils from Towerbank School creating drawings and paintings inspired by Cressida and the octopus that will be displayed across windows of Portobello. We invite anyone to get involved by making their own octopus inspired artwork and to display it in their window for public view.
As you walk around this year’s Art Walk Weekends see how many octopuses you can find. Share what you see on social media using the hashtag
#cressidatrail @artwalkweekends
Photo: Anna Moffat 2015
Artist Events
All events are free, though some require booking in advance.
Art in Shops – Opening Exhibition Previews
@Venue 52 Dook
Helen Highley and Sophie Demery
Sat 27 or 28 Aug (tbc)
@Venue 25 Smith & Gertrude
Sam Sharma
Sat 29 August, 10am-12pm
@Venue 26 Home Sales & Lettings
Minnie Scott
Thu 3 Sept, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Labyrinth Making on Portobello Beach
Fri 4 Sept, 2.30pm-3.30pm
Join us in creating a huge labyrinth together on the beach from locally collected stones. Facilitated by local resident, Eilis Doherty. We hope for the labyrinth to remain visible over the two weekends. No need to book. Meet on the beach at the bottom of Kings Road.
Artist Demo with Felicity Inkpen at Wild Flower Shop
Sat 5 Sept, 11am-12pm
Join Felicity Inkpen at The Wild
Flower shop for a demonstration in the creation of her fluid artworks, with a gentle dusting of the physics of fluids and colours thrown into the mix. Stick around to have a go at making your own fluid-dynamics-inspired artwork.
Space is very limited in the lovely Wild Flower shop, so please arrive promptly to avoid disappointment.
Pottery Demo with Michelle Lowe at Venue 2
Sats 5 and 12 Sept, 2pm
Michelle Lowe runs a pottery decoration demonstration. She will describe the making processes and demonstrate some of her surface decoration techniques, such as using slips and sgraffito (drawing illustrations into the clay with a sharp needle tool).
Picture Book Workshop with Kasia Matyjaszek at Venue 2
Suns 6 and 13 Sept, 11am
Picture Book Workshops with Kasia Matyjaszek. A playful workshop creating characters, stories and settings for your own mini picture books.
Artist Talk with Sally Price at The Portobello Bookshop
Fri 11 Sept, 4pm-4.20pm
Awarded Shift and Flow artist Sally Price provides an informal talk about her inspirations informing her new window installation at Portobello Bookshop, created for Art Walk Weekends. Limited to 12 places. Please book your place using the below link.
Artist Talk with David Williams at Venue 14
Sat 12 Sept, 2.30pm-3pm
David Williams provides a 25-minute talk about the making of the video installation TOGETHER outlining relevant logistical and contextual considerations. Attendees will be most welcome to ask any questions they might have about the work on show.
Tapestry Stitching Workshop at St Marks Church
Sat 12 Sept, 2pm-4pm
Come along to get involved in the Craigmillar Tapestry and have a stitch yourself.
Marking 60 years since the first Craigmillar Festival, you will get the chance to learn some stitching techniques from some of the group members and play your part in this historic community tapestry project. All materials will be provided.
Clothes Collection Popup with Emily Millichip @Venue 32 Traade
Sat 12 & Sun 13 Sept, 9am-4pm
Emily Millichip, a Portobello based fashion designer will be showing PAGAN, a collection of her work at Traade. She creates utilitarian clothing inspired by her work in potato farming. Everything is made in Scotland using natural fibers, with accessories made from materials such as native wood, recycled silver and leather. No need to book.
emilymillichip.com @emilymillichip