Julia Scammell, Hollywood to Hawick: A celebration of old Hollywood and a love of fashion and glamour

February & March: Monday, Wednesday – Saturday 10:00-16:00 (closed
Tuesday & Sunday)
April & May: Monday – Saturday 10:00-16:00 (closed Sunday)

Growing up watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films with her mum
on Saturday afternoons, Julia Scammell was captivated by the glamorous
dresses, music and dancing and she soon developed a lifelong love of
both Hollywood and fashion. Drawing inspiration from illustrators like
René Gruau and local artist Alastair Michie, who created artwork for the
Hawick mills in their heyday, Julia’s work evokes the fashions and glamour
of the time.
The exhibition also features some of the artist’s mother’s dresses from
early 1950s, which are very much in the style of Christian Dior’s New
Look. This style, with its full skirts and cinched waists, was both
controversial and celebrated for emphasising women’s shapes. There is
also an evening suit on display which belonged to Pringle Director Willie
Mactaggart at the same period.
Visitors are invited to come and enjoy the exhibition and take a nostalgic
journey back to a time when casual wear was unheard of! The exhibition
is dedicated to Julia’s mother, Grace, who instilled in her a deep love for
the arts. All proceeds from any artwork sales will be donated to Hawick’s
Artbeat charity, an organisation that has given the artist invaluable
support and encouragement.