My Edinburgh Exhibition Weekend — Art, Inspiration & Small Joys
at The House of Smalls Art Gallery
Beginning of April, I had the joy of traveling to Edinburgh to see one of my embroidery artworks on display at Contexture, a group exhibition celebrating women textile artists. It was my first time exhibiting internationally, and the experience felt surreal, energizing, and full of small moments I’ll treasure.
We arrived late Friday night - technically Saturday morning - after a long travel day, including a six-hour layover in Frankfurt. Despite the fatigue, we woke up early and started the day at Medo Café. A small, cozy spot with great coffee and breakfast - exactly what we needed.
From there, we walked to The House of Smalls Art Gallery. My phone was still set to German time, so we arrived a little early and wandered the block. I was feeling nervous and excited. At the gallery, I finally met Amy, the curator, who warmly welcomed us and shared insights about the exhibition and visitor responses. Seeing my work framed and hanging on the wall among other artists’ pieces was an incredible moment. I took photos, my mum took more, and I even bought a piece from the show - a token to remember the experience. It was motivating in the best way. I hope this is the first of many.
After the gallery, we wandered through the Botanical Gardens, soaking in the rare Scottish sun, and then explored the city - passing through a Timorous Beasties showroom, grabbing a spontaneous late lunch at New Town Fox, and hiking partway up Arthur’s Seat for an incredible view.
Sunday started slower. We had the best breakfast at Roasters Artisan Café - seriously good sourdough sandwiches and amazing coffee. Then we spent the day at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Evelyn Nicodemus’s work stood out to me deeply - her concepts around womanhood and her expressive painting style were incredibly moving. We explored both buildings, enjoyed a Polish lunch at The Painted Rooster, and took the tram to the harbor, where we browsed a small artisan shop and found more souvenirs.
Later, my parents and I squeezed in a quick visit to the Royal Museum just before closing, followed by a stroll through Greyfriars Kirkyard, famously tied to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter namesakes. We ended the day at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen. The fish and chips were excellent, and we were all happily exhausted.
On Monday morning, we had a final breakfast at Twelve Triangles before checking out. We wandered the Royal Mile, stopped for a matcha at Black Ship Coffee, and wrapped up our visit with a bit of last-minute shopping - yes, a Pikachu plush came home with us for my niece’s birthday.
One of the most meaningful parts of this trip was not just the exhibition itself, but who I got to share it with. A heartfelt thank you to my amazing travel team: my parents, who always support my creative adventures with open arms and open calendars; my dear friend Chris, who has shared many travel chapters with me over the years; and my husband George, my constant cheerleader and support system. It meant the world to have them by my side for this special milestone.
Traveling for my own art felt different - quietly affirming, deeply motivating. I’m grateful for the support, the adventure, and the chance to see my work out in the world.
Until next time, Edinburgh.
