A visual and audio exploration of Paisley, Scotland — local life, streets, stories, and everyday observations
Our “Best of Paisley” exhibition is open and free to view on the first floor of Paisley Central Library. Please note the Library is closed on Easter Monday, 6 April. Please get in touch if you are interested in a print of any of the photographs you see. We also have high-quality cards featuring the Abbey and the Mill, available as a set or individually.
At Picturing Paisley, we are nearly ready for our “Best of Paisley” exhibition opening on Monday, 23 March in Paisley Central Library. We have worked with Print Studio Scotland in the Sir James Clark Building to achieve the best possible print quality and look forward to showing them to you.
Are you ever lost for words? Let our photograph cards do the hard work for you when you have a message to send. We have chosen the best of our images taken on a visit to the wonderful Paisley Abbey for our new 2026 selection of cards. Get in touch through the website or Instagram if you are interested: £2 per card or £10 for a set of 6. You can also visit us at the Wynd Centre on 7 February, where we have a stall at the Feelgood February Fair.
Gothic Revival stained glass window
Organ and pulpit
Paisley Abbey view
Paisley Abbey view
Welcome to our new project, where we invite local artists and supporters of Paisley to a guest slot on our Instagram feed.
Looking forward to working with the diverse local artists and talents who live, work and support Paisley and wider Renfrewshire, making it a thriving, positive community.
For artists interested in featuring on our Instagram page, please email us at picturingpaisley@gmail.com
Is Paisley Photographic Society the oldest photographic society in Scotland? It was founded in 1857 and continues to operate today.
The town also established the Paisley Government School of Art and Design in 1846, and enthusiasm for the arts was so prevalent that it led to the establishment of the Paisley Art Institute in 1876.
At the University of the West of Scotland, you can also study photography at the HND level at various campuses, including our very own Paisley Campus. Students always host their end-of-year exhibitions at a local venue.
One famous photographer from the town is Alexander Gardner, and you will have seen at least one of his photographs, his portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Taken in February 1865, it was an album in silver print made by contact printing a glass negative on light-sensitive paper. The large glass negative broke after it was developed, and only one print was made before the negative was discarded. Gardiner was famous for taking many pictures of the American Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln by Gardiner.
Today, in Paisley, we are lucky to have many great photographers and artists who use the medium as a reference for creating their work.
The Art Department at Paisley, a large art space on Causeyside Street, encourages artists to explore their creativity and exhibit there.
Carole Gledhill from the Picturing Paisley group and her cyanotypes.
The Art Department at Paisley
Hi, I’m Carole Gledhill from the Picturing Paisley group.
I love being part of this group, as everyone has a different approach to their photography. We are always learning from each other, and we all like to explore new ideas. A couple of years ago, I attended a 1-day course on Cyanotype, and I was immediately hooked!. The traditional cyanotype is a camera-less photographic process, first discovered in 1842 by Sir John Herschel and made famous by his botanist friend Anna Atkinson. This is how it works:
Two chemicals are mixed to create a light-sensitive solution. Paper or fabric can be coated in this solution and left to dry in the dark. Prints are then made by placing objects on the coated surface and exposing them to UV light, either the sun or an ultraviolet lamp. The exposed surface is then processed by washing in water, after which the wonderful Prussian Blue colour will appear, while the image of the object will appear white or various shades of blue.
I enjoy exploring this process and find it works well with botanical specimens, lace, feathers—anything that will allow some light to pass through. By adding substances that interfere with the process, such as vinegar, soap bubbles, turmeric, salt, etc., a wider range of colours can be achieved. This is known as the wet Cyanotype method, and the results are much more unpredictable!
I’m now dipping my toe in the water in terms of submitting my work to various exhibitions, with some success. You can view 3 of my cyanotypes in the forthcoming exhibition, The Teardrop Explodes, throughout May & June in The Art Department, Causeyside St, Paisley, and a wider range of my cyanotypes can be seen on my Instagram account, @the_blue_herbarium. Thank you for reading!
Today, we gather to celebrate a remarkable milestone—the 4th anniversary of ‘Picturing Paisley’. It’s hard to believe that four years have passed since our humble beginnings. What started as a small online community has blossomed into a vibrant hub, uniting paisley lovers from across the globe. In these four years, we’ve seen extraordinary talent and passion. Our site has become a canvas for artists, designers, and enthusiasts, each bringing their unique perspective to this timeless pattern.
From intricate digital designs to hand-drawn masterpieces, the diversity and creativity of our community have been nothing short of inspiring.’Picturing Paisley’ has not just been about sharing art; it’s been about sharing stories. Each paisley swirl carries a tale, a personal connection to history, culture, and art. We’ve seen Paisley’s journey from ancient Persia to the Scottish town of Paisley, which became a symbol of rebellion in the 60s, to its resurgence in modern fashion. Our community has kept this rich history alive and thriving.
As we look to the future, let’s continue to nurture this platform as a space for learning, sharing, and celebrating the beauty of paisley. Let’s keep the threads of tradition and innovation intertwined, just like the teardrop-shaped motif we all adore. To all who have contributed, from our dedicated team to every member who has shared a post, a comment, or a like: thank you. Your enthusiasm and support have shaped ‘Picturing Paisley’ into what it is today. So, here’s to ‘Picturing Paisley’, to the beauty of the paisley pattern, and to many more years of inspiration and community. Happy 4th Birthday!”
