Our History

Established in 1912 by the 4th Marquess of Bute, Dovecot Studios' founding weavers came from William Morris' Merton Abbey Workshops in Wimbledon, London. The Studios were incorporated in to The Edinburgh Tapestry Company in 1946 although they also continued to be known as Dovecot.

It is only a short journey back to those founding weavers who, with a succession of artistic designers, influenced the world of tapestry throughout the 20th Century.

Creative projects with Stanley Spencer, Frank Brangwyn, Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland, David Hockney, Eduardo Paolozzi, Frank Stella, RB Kitaj, Barbara Rae and Elizabeth Blackadder produced stunning tapestries for private commission and for public collections worldwide.

Faced with closure in 2000 the Studios reopened the following year as Dovecot Studios Limited. The new company employs three full time master weavers, Douglas Grierson, David Cochrane and Naomi Robertson, who bring with them over 50 years experience of weaving with Dovecot. The studio also employs junior weaver Jonathon Cleaver who joined the studios during their move to the new Infirmary Street location. The new company has recently completed a number of exciting commissions.