WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DO
The practice is organic and generative, specialising in place making, social cohesion and community engagement, with a commitment to the delivery of well-conceived and durable artworks that inspire and prompt actions, interactions and reactions. Delivering over 34 wayfinding and transformative social engagement projects for 8 local authorities in Scotland over the past decade, with a variety of communities ranging from ten people to ten thousand. Receiving funding from Sustrans, Paths for All, the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland and the National Lottery.
WHO WE ARE
WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DO
Nicola Atkinson is an internationally acclaimed multi-disciplinary artist and designer whose career has been influenced by time spent on the West Coast of America, in Sweden and living in Glasgow and her company Beautiful Materials Design Studio has established itself as a practice at the forefront of creative community engagement and the delivery of artworks developed through true participation.
Cultivating a sense of belonging & community through establishing uniquely creative ways for people to come together and participate is at the heart of everything we do. Never has this been more important than as it is now.
OUR RECORD
WHAT WE DO
OUR RECORD
Clients have included museums, hospitals, architects, third sector and local authorities from across Scotland and internationally. Nicola Atkinson artist & founder has had numerous exhibitions in international venues including Long Beach Museum of Art, CA, USA, Tramway and The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Scotland, Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands, The Museum of Modern Art, NY, USA and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, UK.
Development & Engagement
Development & Engagement
Development & Engagement
Placemaking is at the heart of our transformative process towards wellbeing and the connection between people and places. We develop inventive and imaginative strategies to establish sustainable infrastructures to support the rural and suburban areas. Engagement is at the core of every project and only through authentic consideration of a community’s needs and identity can it be developed and supported.
Idea & Design
Development & Engagement
Development & Engagement
When you work with us you will discover new exciting new ideas. Our practice loves to carefully research beautiful designs and inspired solutions.
Nicola Atkinson is experienced in every aspect of the built environment, landscape design, architectural design and an understanding of contemporary public arts practice and placemaking.
Build & Deliver
Development & Engagement
Build & Deliver
At its core, Beautiful Materials Design Studio is a maker studio, which creates in mediums such as ceramics, metalworks, canvas, fabric, wood, paper, vinyl, hardscape, paint, ink, glass, found objects assemblage, film making, sound & music. We understand budgets, schedules and work within the timeline set by the client, providing seamless project management and on-site supervision. In safe hands, we deliver the project from concept to proposal and from construction to installation and delivery.