Meeting Andrew Nimmo-Smith’s vision for the Haining in Selkirk has been a labour of love, but six new studios are helping the Haining Charitable Trust work towards it.
In his will, Mr Nimmo-Smith saw the estate as a place for “the advancement of education, arts, heritage and culture”.
In pursuit of that goal the trust has developed six artists’ studios in the former stable courtyard.
The studios offers a ground floor work space, hanging wall space, kitchenette and toilet, with an open corner area upstairs.
The redevelopment work has been sensitively undertaken and the work, by architects Lee Boyd, is in the running for an Edinburgh Architectural Association award in the conservation and regeneration category.
Susan Edington, managing director of the Haining Charitable Trust (HCT), said: “HCT was determined to make sure that the design was considerate of the environment and in-keeping with the original style.
“We are thrilled that the redevelopment has achieved this alongside the practical requirement of a modern artists’ studios.”
She added: “This work demonstrates the ambition HCT has to make every part of the Haining truly excellent, and the completed development of the coach house and stables now offers an emerging resident community where creative arts are nurtured and developed.”
Artist Anna King was one of the first people to take on one of the studios. She said: “It is a really inspiring place to work in, and having the mezzanine floor gives you somewhere to sit and think and look at things from a different perspective.
“It is the first studio I have had to have central heating, so that is quite a luxury, and it is great to be in somewhere that’s been specifically designed as studio space.”
The trust has also appointed Carol Byers to develop the event management programme for the estate.
Carol, who lives in Selkirk, has over 20 years’ experience in events and communications.