The Ferguslie Dye Gardeners is a participatory gardening and textile project led by artist Laura Spring from Sculpture House, in partnership with Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH).

Bringing together local residents in Ferguslie Park, Paisley and the wider Renfrewshire community, the project combines gardening, natural dyeing and textile-making to support wellbeing, creativity and community connection.

For SMHAF 2026, participants will create a large-scale textile installation inspired by the changing seasons, reflecting both the cycle of the garden and their own experiences of growth, resilience and change. The finished artwork will be unveiled at RAMH headquarters during the festival, celebrating the power of creativity, reflection and collaboration to support mental wellbeing.

The event will be a celebration of the textile work demonstrating the processes involved as well as the final artwork. Refreshments will also be served.

Quotes from two of our regular participants describe the group in their own words:

The Dye Garden is a fantastic place and such a lovely group of people. To grow a seed into a plant and then produce a bath of dye to end up with a piece of coloured cloth is an amazingly rich and rewarding experience which gives me great pleasure. Long may it continue!

S, July 2026

The Ferguslie Dye Garden Group has been a fantastic place to learn all about the process of preparing and sowing seeds, seeing them grow and flowering. Laura Spring, with the help from Roisin (the Dye Garden Assistant) help the group understand the process of making the beautiful colours from the plants we planted from the Spring.

From my first visit to the group I have noticed a difference within myself . Being able to mix with people who are like minded as myself, and also having a good chat with everyone over tea and biscuits …. Not to be missed.

M, July 2026