On the trail of textiles and art on Tay Street

May 5 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SEEMING to get bigger year on year is Perth Art Trail, which brings together a collection of arts-based events and exhibitions taking place in Perth at Festival time – and most of them are free!

PERTH Festival of the Art’s principal exhibition, ‘A Passion for Painting Pattern’, at Perth Museum and Art Gallery introduces Raymond Honeyman’s meticulous hand-painted designs and gives a fascinating insight into the process of designing for textiles.

Raymond Honeyman was born and brought up in Perth and educated at Perth Academy. His grandfather, Thomas Honeyman, established Honeyman Stores in Perth.

Raymond studied Decorative Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. His love of painting colour and pattern led to a career in design, with his career in printed textiles beginning with the sale of a design to Liberty, followed by collections for Viyella, inspired by Persian carpets and antique Chinese costume. For the last 10 years he has designed needlepoint kits for Ehrmann Tapestry. Raymond also lectures in printed textile design and taught at the Scottish College of Textiles before taking up his current post as senior lecturer at the University of Cumbria.

Raymond’s inspirations come from all over the world from Paisley to tartan, from Mikado to Ming, his playful compositions and sophisticated blending of colour produce complex designs rich in pattern.

This touring exhibition is organised by the University of Cumbria and sponsored by Ehrmann Tapestry and Twisted Thread. It is curated by highly- regarded textile curator and freelance scholar, Mary Schoeser of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. Mary is the author of the accompanying publication of lavishly illustrated essays and will officially open the exhibition on Saturday, May 23.

Raymond Honeyman will also give a lecture on his textile designs at the museum on Wednesday, May 27, noon-1pm. Admission is free.

Other exhibitions at Perth Museum and Art Gallery running over the Perth Festival are ‘French Connection’, ‘The Return of the Natives’ and ‘The Spirit of Burns’, while in the Fergusson Gallery, Marshall Place, the three exhibitions are ‘Fergusson: A Scottish Colourist’, ‘Winners’ Collection’ and ‘A Life in Sketch’.