history Archives - Picturing Paisley

Sma’ Shot DAY ’26

Sma’ Shot Day is a vibrant celebration held in Paisley. It commemorates a 19th-century victory by the town’s weavers over their employers during an industrial dispute. The weavers used a cotton thread called the Sma’ Shot to bind colourful weft threads into the famous shawls. However, since the Sma’ Shot was unseen in the finished garments, the manufacturers (known locally as “corks”) refused to pay for it. The weavers had no choice but to buy the thread themselves. The festival features a parade, live performances, workshops, family entertainment, and more. It’s one of the world’s oldest worker’s festivals!

Certainly! The Sma’ Shot Day parade is a lively and colorful procession that takes place during the Sma’ Shot Day celebration in Paisley, Scotland. Here are some highlights:

Weavers’ Heritage: The parade pays homage to the town’s weaving heritage. Floats, costumes, and banners showcase the history of weaving, the struggles of the weavers, and their victory over the manufacturers.
Community Participation: Local organizations, schools, and community groups participate in the parade. They create eye-catching displays, perform music, and dance along the route.
Shawls and Threads: Expect to see giant shawls, looms, and spools of colorful threads. These represent the craftsmanship and creativity of the weavers.
Street Performers: Musicians, dancers, and street performers entertain the crowd. Bagpipers, drummers, and folk bands add to the festive atmosphere.
Crowd Interaction: Spectators often join in, clapping, cheering, and dancing alongside the parade. It’s a joyful and inclusive event.

Remember, the Sma’ Shot Day parade is a celebration of resilience, community spirit, and the rich textile history of Paisley! 🎉

I hope this gives you a glimpse of the vibrant Sma’ Shot Day parade! If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask. 😊

Sma’ Shot Day in Paisley is a lively celebration of the historic victory by local weavers over their employers during an industrial dispute. Here’s what’s happening during the festivities on Saturday, July 6, 2024:

Sma’ Shot Parade (12pm – 1pm): The parade, coordinated by Bridgeman Arts, brings to life the traditional weavers’ celebration. It honors their victory and shares exciting stories from the past. This year, it highlights performers and characters who might have appeared at Paisley Fair.
Abbey Close (12pm – 4pm): Enjoy stalls and family-friendly entertainment in Abbey Close.
Stage Programm

Did you know that?

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.

Picturing Paisley exhibition on hoardings outside the museum on Paisley High Street on September 26

Picturing Paisley exhibition on hoardings outside the museum on the Paisley High Street on September 26.

The Art Department at Paisley

Anchor Mill Building

Cotton thread manufacturing has made Paisley well-known. Anchor Mill is a finishing mill in Paisley on the White Cart River. It was designed in 1886 by architects Woodhouse & Morley. In 1980, a working mill featuring red brick exterior and arched windows was designated as a listed building. June 2003 saw the start of the conversion into 60 opulent apartments and commercial spaces. It was the perfect choice for our first set of photo cards because it is just one of the town’s many stunning architectural features. Each participant took a different angle of the building and selected their favourite view to create the card set, which we intend to release later this year. We have had a great time taking pictures of the building from various perspectives, and we will share a few of them with you right now for your enjoyment.

“What is Paisley to you?”

Did you know that we set ourselves a monthly theme and try to relate all our Instagram posts to it for the month? It gives us a challenge and helps us to focus our thoughts on producing photographs that positively reflect on Paisley. It provides fun for our regular followers to see what we come up with.

Our documentary-type photographs usually tell us a story, bring out some kind of emotional response or fix a time and place in history.

This month, we are asking, “What is Paisley to you?”. As humans, we all create fond memories of a time and a place that is as individual as we are.

Let us know what Paisley means to you. Here are some examples of the town’s heritage, people, and cultural scene.

Our Heritage

Happy Birthday, Picturing Paisley!

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!”