Local maker Laura Sherriffs was today (Monday 24 March) awarded a £5,000 prize for her outstanding work in the Tall Ships Aberdeen 2025 Makers Programme, which showcases a wave of creativity sparked by the Tall Ships’ return to Aberdeen.
The programme - which is now on display at the city’s Art Gallery - features maritime-inspired crafts and eco-conscious designs by local talent, capturing the spirit of this once-in-a-generation event.
Five talented city makers - comprising Ben Durack, April Hay, Lindsay Johnston, Laura Sherriffs, and the collaborative team of Gabi Reith and Anne Marquiss – had been selected to translate the event's core themes of maritime history, environmental awareness and the sheer spectacle of the Tall Ships into tangible, captivating creations.
Each of the makers received a £1,500 grant from the UK Government to develop their own Tall Ships-themed products. From the final display at Aberdeen Art Gallery, a panel of experts awarded one outstanding maker a £5,000 prize.
Winner Laura Sherriffs, who produced jackets and bags inspired by traditional fisherman's smocks and sea-worn waterproofs for the programme, said: “This has been amazing, if all a bit overwhelming.
“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to try something different and take that time to experiment and develop the ideas.
“I still have really fond memories of when the Tall Ships were in Aberdeen in 1997. I was only wee but I remember going to see them and the city being totally abuzz - and I think it’s going to be the same again this year.”
The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 returns to the city for the first time in nearly 30 years from 19-22 July 2025. It is Europe’s largest free family event, and the 45 incredible ships already signed up from the Americas, Middle East and Europe are expected to attract 400,000 visits to the city.
Aims of the programme
The Makers Programme supports local small businesses and young entrepreneurs to develop products related to the Tall Ships Races, maritime history and environmental awareness, with the selected makers' work displayed at Aberdeen Art Gallery from today (Monday 24 March) until 20 April.
Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of Aberdeen's Tall Ships Committee and Aberdeen City Council's culture spokesperson (and pictured with Laura in the main image), said:
"Aberdeen's Tall Ships Race is more than about the ships. We are also celebrating our shared maritime heritage and the region's enduring relationships with the North Sea.
“The Makers Programme is a really imaginative way to express our seafaring links. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase the unique talents of local artists. Their wonderful artworks reflect the city's spirit of discovery that comes from our maritime location. Each piece tells an inspiring story.
“We are so proud to support these creative individuals and see their visions come to life."
Joanne Macfadyen, founder at advisor company Tea Green Events said: “Tea Green is proud to be part of the advisory panel for The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 Makers Programme.
“This has been a fantastic opportunity for the selected makers to refine their practice, develop potentially commercial products and explore new themes with the support of the programme.
“The quality of work has been exceptional, and it has been truly inspiring to see each applicant’s initial proposal evolve as they embrace new materials, experiment with innovative techniques, and delve into fresh creative themes.
“Each maker has responded uniquely to the process, showcasing not only their incredible skill and talent but also the richness and diversity of inspiration drawn from the Tall Ships and Aberdeen’s strong maritime heritage."
The makers and their creations
Ben Durack is a 3D Design course lead at Gray's School of Art and independent product designer.
He combines traditional craftsmanship with digital fabrication to create statement pieces. His chair design is influenced by the evolution of shipbuilding, from 18th-century wooden vessels to 20th-century steel ships. His designs aim to celebrate local industries, showcase craftsmanship, reflect the region's heritage, and promote sustainable design through the use of innovative materials.
April Hay of Agate and Ayre is a digital textile designer who draws inspiration from geology and the Scottish landscape.
For the Tall Ships project, she is focusing on sand, a material often overlooked. Growing up in Aberdeen, she developed a passion for the outdoors and the region’s beaches which she now translates into her textile designs. April is collaborating with scientists and sand enthusiasts worldwide to collect sand samples from the Tall Ships Race route. She then magnifies these samples using a microscope, capturing their unique details at 100x and 200x magnification. These magnified sand patterns will be used to create bold and colourful textiles, including a wool crepe that mimics the texture of sand.
Lindsay Johnston, the graphic designer behind Lindsay and Yoshi, creates illustrated prints and patterns for silk scarves, stationery and homewares.
For the Tall Ships project, she's drawing inspiration from the coastal seascape and the diverse seabird populations of the Aberdeenshire coastline, particularly near her home. The Tall Ships' return has evoked memories for her of last time they were here in the 1990s, and she aims to capture the celebratory atmosphere and international camaraderie of the event. Her designs reflect Aberdeen's historic relationship with the sea, including its fishing heritage.
Laura Sherriffs of Fernweh is a fashion designer specialising in outdoor accessories, with a particular focus on rock climbing and - for this project - her love of wild swimming.
Inspired by her connection to the North Sea and Aberdeen's maritime history, she's creating a collection centred around a dry robe-style jacket. This jacket draws inspiration from traditional fisherman's smocks and sea-worn waterproofs, incorporating repurposed materials like historical sailcloth and a decommissioned sail from the Tall Ship Alba Explorer. She's also designing a modern, durable "fisherman's ditty bag" for wild swimmers, adhering to a zero-waste ethos by using old sailcloth.
Illustrator Gabrielle Reith and Anne Marquiss, a jewellery designer, are collaborating to create mobiles inspired by the Tall Ships.
Gabrielle is focusing on the whaling industry and the art of scrimshaw, the intricate carvings seamen created on bone and tusks during long voyages. Anne is drawing inspiration from her father's hand-drawn ship hull and engine designs from his time as a draftsman at Hall Russell shipyard in the 1940s. Together, they are prototyping mobiles featuring simple, moving forms that represent dramatic waves and whale tails, using recycled brass and stainless steel.
Designs on the Tall Ships
The designs from the Tall Ships Aberdeen 2025 Makers Programme are displayed at Aberdeen Art Gallery from today (Monday 24 March) until 27 April.
It is just one exciting element of the city's preparations for this major event.
Members of Aberdeen Stitch & Textile Group and Unfinished Objects (UFO) Group are working in the Art Gallery on Tuesdays 1.30-3.30pm to create the commemorative Tall Ships 2025 sampler.
Alternatively, visit the only official shop of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 to own your own souvenir of the event. The shop features branding for the Tall Ships visit to Aberdeen, and reflects the city’s life, diversity, geography, culture and language. Clothing and gifts are printed on demand and shipped directly to your home. Products have been chosen with ethics and sustainability in mind and profits from sales of merchandise will be reinvested in the event, as well as supporting the Tall Ships Makers Programme.
The Tall Ships Aberdeen 2025 Makers Programme received funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 is also supported through EventScotland’s International Events Funding Programme.
