About me

Hello! I'm Mairi—artist, art therapist and lifelong lover of the weird and wonderful.

I grew up in the concrete playgrounds of Livingston, surrounded by roundabouts, shopping centres, and skate parks—and with an insatiable pull toward all things creative and unconventional. Art was always my compass, and it led me through a kaleidoscope of creative studies: from fashion and illustration to painting and sculpture.

Fashion became my first creative love affair. I studied Fashion Design for Industry in the Scottish Borders, graduating with a serious passion for making things that make people feel. I was never interested in playing it safe (spoiler: still not). My final year focused on menswear—because I had zero desire to make ‘nice dresses’ (yawn)—and I fell in love with crafting garments that told a story.

Post-graduation, I hopped on a train to London with a suitcase full of dreams and ended up working with the extraordinary Katie Eary. Those wild, wonderful years in London’s fashion world shaped me deeply and gave me a front-row seat to creative brilliance.

Over a decade ago, I returned to lovely Scotland and found myself a little adrift—but also wide open. I followed my heart into people-work, spending seven beautiful years nannying four incredible children and working as a deputy manager at the wonderful Edinburgh Headway Group with adults with acquired brain injuries, while reimagining what creativity could look like outside the runway. That journey led me to train as an art psychotherapist, earning my master's, a freshly emptied bank account, and some lifelong pals.

These days, my art practice is a vibrant mix of commissions and personal projects, spanning mediums, sizes, and whatever sparks my curiosity next. I work across everything from small, detailed pieces to bold, wall-filling works—and always with a playful spirit and a love for the wonderfully offbeat. Quirky? Often. Intuitive? Absolutely. Fun? Always.

Whether I’m sketching something silly, painting something powerful, or dreaming up something entirely in-between—I’m here to create with heart and colour outside the lines.

I’m also an art therapist, you can find out more about what I do at Perry Psychotherapy.

Thanks for stopping by—I’m glad you’re here.