Dundee artist inspired by Scotland’s landscapes to showcase work at V&A Dundee
- Andrew Batchelor
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
A Dundee artist whose colourful contour maps celebrate Scotland’s hills and mountains is preparing to showcase her work at V&A Dundee as one of the country’s biggest independent design markets returns to the city.
Kym Parker, the designer behind Kilo Papa, will be among around 45 independent makers, artists and designers exhibiting at the Tea Green Events Summer Design Market, taking place at V&A Dundee from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.
Free to attend, the three-day event will bring together some of Scotland’s leading creative businesses, with visitors able to browse everything from artwork and ceramics to jewellery, textiles, stationery and homeware.
Kym’s distinctive work transforms the contour lines found on Ordnance Survey maps into vibrant pieces of artwork, creating prints, greetings cards, tea towels and textile designs inspired by some of Scotland’s best-loved landscapes.
Originally from Arbroath, she studied Textile Design at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles before working in Manchester and Glasgow. Having recently returned to Dundee, she says reconnecting with the city has reignited many childhood memories that continue to influence her creative work today.
Among those memories are visits to Dundee Law with her grandfather, who would point out where he lived from the summit. Those personal connections to landscapes, she says, are exactly what inspire many of her designs, with customers often sharing stories of family walks, Munro climbs and special moments linked to the places she maps.
Kym has exhibited at almost every Tea Green market since 2018 and credits the Dundee-based organisation with helping her turn her passion into a full-time career. She describes Tea Green founder Joanne MacFadyen as one of Scotland’s biggest champions of independent makers, creating not only beautifully curated events but also a supportive creative community.
Now in its 12th year, Tea Green Events has grown into one of Scotland’s leading showcases for independent design, attracting thousands of visitors to venues across the country.
Following its return to V&A Dundee, this summer’s programme will also visit Bowhouse in Fife, The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, Aberdeen Art Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait in Edinburgh.
For visitors to V&A Dundee, the market offers the opportunity to meet the makers behind the work, discover unique Scottish-designed products and support independent creative businesses from across the country.
