Step Into the Colourful World of Donna Wilson, A Pioneer in Scottish Design and Craft

At Òr, we are delighted to showcase the work of Donna Wilson – an artist, designer, and innovator whose creations are as full of character as the woman herself. Trust us, you’ll love her just as much as we do!

Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2003, award-winning designer Donna Wilson has been turning the world of contemporary craft on its head with her signature style – playful, bold, and delightfully tactile. Drawing inspiration from her childhood on a farm in beautiful rural Aberdeenshire, where her love of animals and nature began, each piece Donna designs carries a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and joy.

Now, with teams in East London, Dundee and beyond, Donna’s designs have earned global recognition and continue to gain international attention. From her innovative work at Knit Shop, to her collaborations with renowned brands such as Hermès, Penguin Random House, and Anthropologie, Donna’s work has a lasting impact.

Photo by Grant Anderson

Her creations took centre stage at the Creature Collective exhibition at V&A Dundee last year. Visitors had the chance to meet over 100 knitted characters, each lovingly handmade with its own unique story to tell. The collection celebrated the beauty of imperfection and the oddities of life, inviting audiences into a world bursting with colour and personality. 

Dundee is also home to one of Donna’s proudest achievements, her own micro-knit factory, Knit Shop. Donna vividly remembers the closure of the local knit factory during her childhood, taking with it livelihoods and the quiet inheritance of skill passed down through generations. With Knit Shop, she has found a way to weave those traditions back into the fabric of modern Scottish design, helping to revive an important local industry. 

This bright, welcoming space opened its doors in 2020, it’s where skeins of soft wool and fine cotton are transformed into something beautiful – where Donna’s designs come to life, and where new talent finds its footing. Knit Shop is as much a workshop as it is a gathering place, offering students from the local art school, independent designers, and established businesses a way to bring their ideas to market with a gentler, more flexible approach to production.

At Òr, we’re passionate about nurturing Scotland’s vibrant design culture and supporting emerging talent, and Donna is the perfect embodiment of these values. Her journey, vision, and dedication to making the world a more joyful place through design is a true inspiration, and we’re thrilled to share her creations with you! 

Discover more of Donna’s work at Òr and follow along with her latest projects on Instagram @donnawilsonltd and @knitshopscotland.