Dumfries Womens’ Sign Squad

Monday January 21

In October 2018, we were delighted at Dumfries & Galloway Council’s decision to transfer the former Bakers Oven to community ownership through the Midsteeple Quarter Project. Since then, our Creative Producer, Kevin Reid, has been working hard at creating an exciting programme of activity in The Oven which includes exhibitions, workshop spaces and event – all of which will be open to the public! We plan to use the street level space as an enterprise space for start-up businesses and social enterprise, as well as continuing the use of the space for charities and third sector organisations.

One of the many ways in which The Oven will be used in 2019 will be a space for the Dumfries Women Signwriters Guild to meet. The group began meeting in October 2018, and have been working with Rachel E. Millar, a professional signwriter and lettering artist based in Glasgow. Rachel specialises in designing and painting letter by hand – large or small, interior or exterior, on shop fronts, on walls and almost any other surface. You can check out some of Rachel’s amazing work here: https://rachelemillar.com/signs

Over the past 3 months, Rachel has been sharing her fantastic skills with the group, showing techniques and helping with work on sourced jobs and signs for local business. Rachel will continue to work with the group until March, and following this the group will run self sufficient from The Oven, taking on local commissions and ideas. They also hope to create some large scale work in the close – keep an eye out for more information on their progress!