Peebles Museum Unveils Exhibition Celebrating John Buchan and 25 Years of Textile Art

Peebles Museum and Gallery is set to open a new exhibition, "Text–Texture–Textiles: John Buchan and 25 Years of Textile Art," marking both the 150th anniversary of author and statesman John Buchan and a quarter-century of creative achievements by EDGE Textile Artists Scotland. The exhibition, launching on Saturday, June 7, highlights the evolution of EDGE Textile Artists Scotland, a group formed in 1999 from the merger of three Scottish textile collectives: Embryo, One, 6, 7, and SETA. Since its inception, the group has been dedicated to advancing both technical and artistic standards in contemporary textile art, with members exhibiting widely across Scotland and internationally. The main gallery features a retrospective that traces EDGE’s journey over the past 25 years, displaying works that blend technical mastery with conceptual innovation. The pieces on view illustrate the group’s commitment to merging traditional craftsmanship with fine art sensibilities. In addition to celebrating the group’s history, the exhibition establishes a creative dialogue with the John Buchan Museum. New works by EDGE artists, inspired by materials from the Buchan archive, are showcased in the Museum Room. These pieces reinterpret Buchan’s life and legacy through the medium of textiles, offering fresh perspectives on the iconic Scottish figure. The exhibition encourages visitors of all ages to explore how textiles can serve as vessels for meaning, memory, and identity. By connecting contemporary art with heritage collections, the event fosters a conversation across generations, highlighting the enduring relevance of both John Buchan’s legacy and Scotland’s vibrant textile tradition.