Cosima’s

Cosima Sempill haswowed the art worldwith her unusualceramics. She has sether sights on conqueringEdinburgh’s interiordesign scene next.

Ronda Carman

meetsthe ambitious andtalented artist.

Photography by: Ian Monk

world

It keeps the

creativity

flowing

It is VERY

important

to me to be surroundedby

beautiful

things,

fabulous

COLOUR

and

interesting

patterns

“”

eavily influenced by a creative family andan early childhood spent in South Africa,ceramic artist Cosima Sempill flourishes asa creative soul, moving from strength to strengthacross a variety of creative industries. After a four-year study of ceramics at the Glasgow School of Art, Cosima moved back home to Edinburgh in2005 to embark on a new chapter of her unfoldingcareer.Coming from a very well-connected family – hergreat-great-grandfather was Glasgow Boy Sir JohnLavery – Cosima has not been afraid to eschew herconnections in favour of thriving on her own. Verymuch a talent in her own right, she is the artistbehind the popular, quirky and unique ceramics of Kitty & Dude. Mixing kitschy ceramic forms withfunky decals, Cosima creates dainty mugs withpistol handles, fragile cupcakes, flying pigs andnon-stackable Russian Dolls. “I love people’sresponse to the wit in my work. It's great when

customers pick up a Kitty & Dude piece andgiggle or point something out to their friends.”The fun and fanciful name was conceived afterplaying with some typewriter letters and theethos behind Kitty & Dude is very simple. It’sall about making design accessible and fun.Cosima has chosen a wholly tongue in cheekapproach to her chosen medium. “Kitty &Dude gives me a bit of anonymity whilekeeping the name Cosima Sempill for mybespoke pieces,” she explains.The ceramicist now works out of one of themost respected artists’ studios in Edinburgh.“Initially I started creating ceramics from myparents’ garage and later moved into the AdamPottery,” she recalls. While workingindependently at the Adam Pottery, both in thecreative and business sense, Cosima wassurrounded by kindred spirits with communalinterests, but she decided to move to CoburgHouse Studios, which is closer to her Leithhome. “It is fantastic to experience life in aworking studio. I have met some of Scotland'smost talented artists through my involvementwith the studio and I get to work with them on

Opposite page, from top: The bedroom plays host to many ofCosima’s vintage pieces; Cosima Sempill; the vintage styling iscomfortable as well as chic. This page: Cosima’s work space iswell-used and full of character.