In September 2025 we once again opened up The Paper Factory for a stunning showcase of artwork.

“Edge of Matter” featured 22 talented graduates selected by Visual Arts Scotland alongside a cohort of 16 emerging artists chosen by Hidden Door.

Over the long weekend, nearly a thousand people came through the doors to explore the free exhibition. Unlike most traditional galleries, audiences were actively encouraged to touch and interact with many of the pieces.

The work explored a range of themes; from human behaviour, patriarchy and power structures to the beauty of nature and the fragility of our environment. Some pieces were deeply personal, others overtly political – and some simply posed questions for audiences to quietly ponder.

The huge venue allowed the work plenty of room to breathe, and for audiences to view from afar or close up, with visitors encouraged to plot their own path through the exhibition, free of barriers.

Evie Rose Thornton, who coordinates Hidden Door’s Artist Development Programme, said “It was such a joy to see the Edge of Matter exhibition bring together so many exceptional emerging artists from across Scotland. The scale was breathtaking, from giant balloon figures to intricate miniature scenes, but just as impressive was the sheer quality of work from everyone involved.

“Our Artist Development Programme is all about building that kind of community: a year-long series of events free and open to everyone via our newsletter, designed to foster connection, collaboration, and support for emerging artists.”

“Special thanks to Visual Arts Scotland for their collegiate approach to opening up space for the arts, and to the volunteer team at Hidden Door for all their hard work! An extraordinary exhibition of remarkable artistic talent – we look forward to pursuing future collaborations in support of creative practice, innovation and experimentation.” – Hazel Johnson, Hidden Door Festival Director

Congratulations to Holly Booth, who was selected as winner of our Hidden Door Emerging Artist Award. She will receive £500 to go towards the creation of a brand new artwork for Hidden Door 2026. More details on that soon!

Feedback for the exhibition was glowing, with one visitor emailing to say:

“It was a great mix of work that showcased the range and diversity of talent and practices in Scotland just now. The space held the work really well and allowed room as well as connectivity between the works.”

“This exhibition is about more than showcasing work, it is about recognising the breadth of talent and affirming our commitment to support and nurture it, and to offer a platform where emerging artists can be seen, supported and encouraged to take creative risks.” – VAS President Tavienne Bridgwater

It was also a chance to revisit the wonderful creations of artists from the Edinburgh International Mural Festival, installed during our festival in June and still looking incredible…

Edge of Matter ran from 25-28 September 2025.

The artists selected by Visual Arts Scotland were: Alex Winton, Amy Robson, Daye Allen, Ellis Bairstow, Emilia Munton Evans, Emily McClatchie, Finn Trevor, Holly Stitt, Jan McCormack, Jessie Dundas, Julia Ashe, Kiera Walsh, Kieran Dunning, Laura Compton, Leah Macmillan, Maya Hall de Bueno, Mia Coutts, Natalia Borjarska, Oli Turner, Rose Kelly, Rosie Andrew and Thomas Arnold.

Hidden Door’s selected artists were: Claire Marion Black, Dora Zoi, Eilidh Appletree, Esther Stone, Fae Ross, Fae Rogers, Holly Booth, Irene Aldazabal, Liz McNeill, Maria McStay, Martha Williams, Niamh Finnigan, Rosie Hodgson Smith, Ruaridh Litster-Campbell, San Zhang and Zeena Wright-Al Tai.

The exhibition was kindly supported by Creative Scotland Development Funding and the City of Edinburgh Council’s Local Events Open Fund. Kind thanks also to Bellfield Brewery for providing refreshments for our opening night.

Photos by James Duncan, Iain Robinson and Jim Coltham