Scottish Tapestry Trail celebrates 'power of community and embroidery'

Two Tayside tapestries feature in a Scotland-wide art trail detailing stories from around the country.

Both the Declaration of Arbroath and Dundee tapestries will join more than a dozen other works as part of The Scottish Tapestry Trail.

The trail officially launched this week with organisers hoping it will inspire more people to learn about stitching and help boost tourism.

The Dundee Tapestry was crafted by volunteer stitchers who gave their time to illustrate the city’s industrial heritage.

Now, on display for the second time, it’s been chosen to feature in the trail weaving its way through Scotland.

V&A Dundee programme assistant Pip Mitchell said: “V&A Dundee is delighted to be able to host the Dundee Tapestry for a second time. It’s even more special this time around because we are a location among the growing network of the Scottish Tapestry Trail.

“It’s an honour for the city and for community members who have put their time into the Dundee Tapestry and other projects in the area. It’s just a delight and it really celebrates the power of community and embroidery.”

Tapestry-making has been a way of connecting communities and telling stories from across the country since Medieval times.

Trail aims to boost tourism and encourage more people to learn embroidery STV News

The Scottish Tapestry Trail features more than a dozen works of art including the Gordon Highlanders and Declaration of Arbroath Tapestries, showing off the skills of the stitchers involved.

Artist Andrew Crummy came up with the idea in 2009 after being asked to design a tapestry depicting the Battle of Prestonpans.

Once completed, he was asked to create the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels.

He launched the trail with Sir Geoff Palmer on Wednesday with workshops taking place across Scotland, encouraging people to pick up a needle and thread and tell their own stories.

Pip added: “I think today is a great example of the resurgence of hand-crafted skills.

“These brilliant stitchers come here on a daily basis throughout the week to engage with visitors and talk about the stories and creation of projects like the Dundee Tapestry. I think there’s a lot of momentum for that kind of activity going on today.”