A pioneering Dundee jewellery workshop is to close with its founder blaming a lack of support for creative industries in Dundee for its demise.
Vanilla Ink, based at Meadow Mill Studios in West Henderson Wynd, offered up-and-coming jewellery designers a place to create and then showcase their work.
However, founder Kate Pickering has said the studio will close at the end of January and relocate to Glasgow.
And while Dundee is still celebrating being awarded City of Design status by Unesco, she has delivered a parting shot, saying creative industries need more than simple lip-service to survive.
She warned that without the necessary support infrastructure, similar enterprises will always struggle.
In a blog post this week she wrote: “Dundee holds a strong place in my heart, the city has taken me in as one of its own and I have seen it grow and flourish over the past 11 years of me inhabiting it and it comes with a heavy heart to be closing the studio in Dundee.
“Although we have had much success there have been barriers that have prevented us from fully exploring our potential.
“Dundee is a great environment and has a strong grassroots community with a spirited ethos but sustaining the great ideas, momentum and motivation is hard work. It can easily feel isolated at times, as we continue striving to fulfil what we set out to and have dedicated our lives to achieving.”
But Kate added that she does plan to open a new studio in Dundee in the future.
“Rest assured, we will be back and with partnerships already in the making, so you won’t be missing us for too long,” she wrote.