Norman Gilbert did not see eye to eye with his tutors at Glasgow School of Art, as he refused to follow the artistic style of the time, forging his own path.
Artist Margaret Ferguson painted 100 portraits to honour the 201 Hebridean men who lost their lives at sea in the Iolaire Disaster in 1919.
Journalist Marc Ellison talks about co-authoring an immersive and shocking graphic novel. We also follow Glasgow-based Ross Muir, a former drug addict who turned his life around and, after one painting went viral, became a successful Scottish artist.
7ft-tall drag queen Gingzilla takes on a challenge to create an Edinburgh-inspired look for £50, and Rujazzle, a drag queen, performance and makeup artist based in Glasgow, combines her two great passions into a photo series entitled 28 Days of Art Herstory.
Loop investigates what makes a good skateboarding photograph, with the work of Michael Rennie capturing tricks on camera at the skatepark in Newport-on-Tay.
Loop features Radial, part of National Theatre of Scotland’s Futureproof festival, where young people in Dundee collaborated with Back to Back Theatre (Australia) to make a film and video portrait of a community and landscape in motion.
A homage to female friendship, through poetry and animation, from Glasgow School of Art student Iona Lee.
Inspiring stories of creativity from across the vibrant Scottish arts scene, on the theme of Finding the Right Words. Singer and musician Edwyn Collins discusses his difficult journey to rediscover words and language in the wake of two catastrophic strokes in 2005. As well as stirring stories from other artists, writers and creative practitioners across Scotland.
Inspiring stories of creativity from across the vibrant Scottish arts scene, on the theme of 'Pictures That Tell a Story'. Comic book artist Frank Quitely discusses his creative process and his journey from a boy who loved drawing to illustrating some of the most iconic characters in the world. As well as stirring stories from other artists, writers and creative practitioners across Scotland.
Inspiring stories of creativity from across the vibrant Scottish arts scene, on the theme of 'Capturing the Moment'. Screenwriter and director Raisah Ahmed discusses her writing and development process and how stories from her family history influence the stories she tells in her work. As well as stirring stories from other artists, writers and creative practitioners across Scotland.
Inspiring stories of creativity from across the vibrant Scottish arts scene, on the theme of From Your Own Hands. Celebrated visual artist Rachel McLean describes her creative process and why a personal hand made feel to her work is so important. As well as stirring stories from other artists, writers and creative practitioners across Scotland.
Kieran Hurley discusses his film Beats, which looks at Scotland's rave scene. We also showcase the Scottish Ballet's 2019 Digital Season and meet Michelle Hopewell star of Matilda The Musical.
Inspiring stories of creativity from across the vibrant Scottish arts scene, this week on the theme of 'Future Proofing'. Comedian, writer and film-maker Amna Saleem talks about how her ideas come to life. She also talks about future identities and how to fix our relationship with the internet. And there are stirring stories from other artists, writers and creative practitioners across Scotland.
BBC Scotland's vibrant arts strand is back, featuring Edinburgh Comedy award-winner Richard Gadd, whose new play makes a bold personal statement. He discusses this, previous shows and why using real life events has helped him deal with dark periods in his life and to create some of his best work. Plus the best content and performances from the Edinburgh festivals 2019.
This episode features crime writer Val McDermid talking about her work, her plans for the Edinburgh festival and why Edinburgh makes such a good setting for crime fiction. Plus the best content and performances from this year’s edition of the world’s biggest art festival.
BBC Scotland’s vibrant arts strand is back featuring playwright Stef Smith discussing how theatre can create a sense of belonging as well as her new play Enough and its run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Plus all the best content and performances from the Edinburgh festivals 2019.
Scottish post-rock band Mogwai discuss their community and artist-focused label, Rock Action, designed to help nurture and grow local talent.
Artist and broadcaster Lachlan Goudie takes us on a journey aboard a cross channel ferry which houses a large collection of work by his father, Alexander Goudie.
Bajan-Scottish artist Alberta Whittle discusses the themes of oppression and self-healing within her work and takes us behind the scenes as she prepares for her first solo exhibition in Dundee. Plus inspiring stories of creativity from across the Scottish arts scene, including a fashion label that creates all its clothing using recycled denim, a tattooist raising awareness of sexual assault and an art project that aims to save the world's largest bog.
Robbie and Julie use simple but ingenious designs to overcome physical access challenges.
Loop journeys to the Isle of Skye to uncover author Neil Gaiman’s unique, creative connection to the island’s dramatic landscape.
Loop meets dancer Divine Tasinda, a Congolese choreographer and artist based in Glasgow. Sharing her inspiring journey, Divine details her involvement with Scottish organisation Project X and her passion for bringing themes of African diaspora and womanhood into her work. Also featured in this episode is David J Mitchell, one of Scotland’s youngest traditional sculptors, who explains the technical process behind his work, and visual artist Caroline Gormley reveals how lockdown became the inspiration behind her colourful creations painted on toilet paper. The owners of Scotland’s first veteran-owned tattoo studio, Primrose Path Tattoo Society, share their stories and passion for tattoos, and retiree Jos Treen explains how he rediscovered his love of photography by dusting off old negatives and turning his bathroom into a dark room.
Loop meets dancer Divine Tasinda, a Congolese choreographer and artist based in Glasgow. Sharing her inspiring journey, Divine details her involvement with Scottish organisation Project X and her passion for bringing themes of African diaspora and womanhood into her work. Also featured in this episode is David J Mitchell, one of Scotland’s youngest traditional sculptors, who explains the technical process behind his work, and visual artist Caroline Gormley reveals how lockdown became the inspiration behind her colourful creations painted on toilet paper. The owners of Scotland’s first veteran-owned tattoo studio, Primrose Path Tattoo Society, share their stories and passion for tattoos, and retiree Jos Treen explains how he rediscovered his love of photography by dusting off old negatives and turning his bathroom into a dark room.
Loop meets Frank McFadden, whose battle with addiction saw him lose it all, including his ability to pursue his gift as a visual artist. On his road to recovery, Frank was given a lifeline through a chance encounter with artist Peter Howson, who invited him to work at his studio. Reconnecting with his gift for contemporary art at Howson's studio, Frank went on to establish himself as one of Scotland's leading contemporary artists, channelling themes of death and mortality into his work. In Edinburgh, creative Kiaz Trepte shares her inspiring journey of how she used her skills as a textile maker and a former Vivienne Westwood fitter to become a puppet maker. We also meet Fife schoolteacher turned fashion designer Sarah Murphy, learning how she crafts her brand of couture tulle dresses from her spare room, and we travel to Aberdeen to meet Lina Kotesva, who creates handmade artworks crafted from resin through her business, Colorflux Art.
Comedian Janey Godley reflects on her year of bringing laughs and light relief to Scotland, sharing the inspiration behind her viral parodies of first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s daily briefings.
Loop meets Libertines frontman Peter Doherty, who shares his thoughts on art as a form of rehabilitation after taking part in a life drawing session with prisoners at HMP Barlinnie, as well as opening up about his own recovery. From a blank page to a leather-bound treasure, bookbinder Gillian Stewart takes us through the satisfying process of creating a handmade book. In Edinburgh, Dawn Irvine is at Capital Theatres to chat accessible art and how to tailor it to those living with dementia. We also hear from Willy Gilder, who after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in early 2021, recognises more than ever the importance of having access to arts and culture. Stepping into the otherworldly creations of set designer Furmaan Ahmed, Loop goes behind the scenes on a shoot with Glasgow band Walt Disco, as Furmaan explains how their work serves as a form of escapism from the reality we live in.
Having moved from Pakistan to Pollokshields with her parents in the 1960s, comedian and actor Lubna Kerr reflects on a life spent straddling Scottish and Pakistani culture and comedy, and the boxes she has had to tick along the way. In the Scottish Borders, Michelle de Bruin shuts out the noisy stoneyard around her as she takes us through the quiet, contemplative art of stonecarving. After one case changed everything for former social care worker David McHarg, he decided to quit the profession and teach socially isolated people in his community how to build guitars from scratch, and in turn find his own happiness. Sculptor Josie Ko’s vibrant personality is evident in her colourful, whimsical sculptures, though behind the over-the-top wigs lies a more serious message rooted in racist stereotypes that Josie wants to turn on their head through her art.
Loop tells the story of Shatha Altowai and her husband Saber, artists from Yemen who made the decision to flee their home after escalation in the civil war made it impossible to practise their art. Having found a safe haven in Edinburgh, they are now using their creativity to highlight the plight of those still trapped in the conflict. On the Isle of Lewis, Netty Sopata takes us through the art of kilt making and shares the reasons why creating traditional garments using wool from her own flock of sheep is important to her. Teenage photographer Dylan Lombard doesn’t go anywhere without his camera. At the age of ten he was diagnosed with MDP syndrome, a condition that affects only 13 other people in the world. Looking different to his classmates, Dylan felt isolated growing up, until his parents bought him a camera and what began as a coping method soon became an obsession.
Returning to the Isle of Lewis after studying in Glasgow, photographer and mask-maker Danielle MacLeod found herself inspired by the landscapes around her. But having deconverted from her Christian faith, a big part of her islander identity was gone. Danielle tells Loop how she created a new set of values for herself and brought them to life by photographing handmade masks created from Lewis’s natural materials. Graeme ‘Nash’ Latto was a prolific tattoo artist in Dundee from the late 1970s until his passing in 2006. Now his son Gary is on a mission to photograph and collect stories from as many of his dad’s former clients as possible, as a way to preserve the art but also reconnect with his dad after all this time. Having created hats for royals and celebrities alike, Sally-Ann Provan knows her way around a lace embellishment. She sheds a light on the delicate art of millinery, from blocking and steaming to meticulously shaping realistic rose petals.
Fringe veteran Josie Long returns to Edinburgh with a quick-witted show inspired by changes and challenges in her life, including becoming a mother for the second time and relocating from London to Glasgow during lockdown. Loop meets Josie as she prepares to bring her action-packed show Re-Enchantment to the capital and learns how her love affair of Scotland has become integral to her work.
In late 2022, Leyla Josephine's debut poetry book, In Public/In Private, was published, with a whirlwind tour around England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to support it. We meet the performance poet at the top of her game as she pauses for breath in her adopted hometown of Prestwick. In an exclusive recording from the beach, Leyla reads Questions I Have for Birds and gets ready for her much-anticipated homecoming gig at Glasgow's iconic King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.
Ceramicist AJ Simpson won The Great Pottery Throwdown in 2022, impressing the judges with her impressive ceramics.
Classical chart-topping sisters Sarah and Laura Ayoub have been playing violin and cello since they were kids, but it was only when they started playing together as the Ayoub Sisters in 2015 that the world started taking notice. For their latest release, Arabesque, the sisters draw inspiration from their Arabic heritage, fusing classical strings with traditional folk songs from Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt, to reflect their unique musical make-up. The duo perform El Helwa Di for quartet of violin, cello, guitar and percussion.
Ex-Buzzcocks drummer John Maher opens up about his punk past and his current photography obsession.
Yong-Chin Breslin delivers a creative masterclass, artist couple Donna and Carl give buoys a new lease of life as pieces of art, and Charles Young makes a miniature St Giles Cathedral - out of paper.
Scottish comedian and actress Karen Dunbar has turned her hand to something rather unexpected – teaching people to rap! In doing so, she has discovered how spoken word can empower people to tell their own stories, regardless of who they are or where they are from.