The Forthline Project

The Forthline Project was a large collaborative textile and mixed-media art project celebrating the coastline of the Firth of Forth.

Artists and craftspeople were each given a 40 cm square of calico representing a specific kilometre of shoreline. Using embroidery, textile work, collage, painting, and other craft techniques, participants interpreted the coastal landscape, wildlife, history, and environmental character of their assigned section. A continuous black shoreline line connected every square visually, allowing the individual works to join together into one long illustrated narrative of the coast.

The project was developed by experienced craftworkers with support from the Edinburgh Shoreline in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. It’s goals were both artistic and environmental: to inspire creativity while celebrating the remarkable biodiversity and heritage of the Forth shoreline.

Completed sections — and sometimes the entire assembled work — were exhibited at venues around the Forth, including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the Scottish Fisheries Museum, the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, and The Ecology Centre.

We are delighted to have had such great support for this creative project, and have enjoyed seeing it come together as artists, crafters and enthusiasts of every kind shared their squares with us. We hope you will also enjoy the final artwork.