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Meet Your Maker: Maureen Regulinski – Painting Joy Across Edinburgh

Looking for temporary studio space in Edinburgh or a place to make art while travelling? Artist Maureen found exactly that at Edinburgh Open Workshop (EOW) – and her story is a brilliant example of how a creative hub can help artists feel at home, even when they’re overseas.

A Family Adventure in Scotland

When Maureen and her husband left Virginia last spring, they were looking for more than just a holiday.

“We wanted to spend some real time with our son and daughter-in-law and experience their new home for ourselves,” Maureen shares.

“So we sold our house, gave away a lot of our possessions and took a gap year. It’s been fabulous – Edinburgh is such an easy city to love and get around in. We’ve travelled almost exclusively around Scotland, experiencing beautiful places like Iona, Mull, and the Highlands, and just enjoying the adventure.”

But Maureen was also looking for a place to create – and that’s when she discovered Edinburgh Open Workshop.

A Life in Art & Theatre

Maureen’s artistic journey began with drawing and painting, later taking her into the world of theatre.

“My professor gave me a wild card to audition for graduate school in California studying costume and lighting design,” she says. “I worked in the theatre for a while, but painting has always called me back.”

Today, Maureen blends these skills into something uniquely her own: public art that brings joy to the streets of Edinburgh.

“I install my work as a street artist – it’s a gift to the city. I create glyphs, symbols for joy, health, and wellbeing. Each glyph holds a different meaning for each viewer, and that shared experience is what connects us all. I want to give people a moment to pause, notice something beautiful, and remember that joy is everywhere.”

To view Maureen’s public art installations go to @gran.stand on Instagram.

Creativity in the Textile Studio

 

When she’s not painting, Maureen makes the most of EOW’s textile facilities, recycling old fabric swatch books and turning them into day packs and pocketbooks. She even turned an old table cloth and shawl into a stunning new outfit.

“I love finding fabric in charity shops and giving it a second life. Having access to the textile studio here is wonderful – you don’t need to own all the machines, you just show up and create. It’s flexible, affordable, and inspiring.”

For artists and makers looking for a shared workshop space in Edinburgh, this pay-as-you-go model is ideal – and one of the reasons EOW attracts creatives from around the world.

Finding Focus in the Temporary Studio Bay

Maureen has loved working from Bay 9 – EOW’s temporary studio hire space for PAYG members looking for a short term private space to work on individual projects.

“It feels like you can concentrate your energy in that room rather than being spread out in the big room,” Maureen says.

“I can work on several paintings at once in that smaller space. The rotating studio idea is fantastic – it’s a perfect middle ground for artists who aren’t ready for a permanent studio but want more focus than the open workshop floor.”

 

Why Community Matters

For Maureen, one of the biggest benefits of joining a maker space has been connection.

“The diversity of makers here is incredible,” she says. “From woodworkers and furniture designers to jewellers and metalsmiths.

“Everyone is friendly and engaging. There are quiet folks and big belly-laugh folks, and it just feels like a community when there’s joy, goofing around, and hard work being done.”

When you’re new to a city, or even just visiting, finding that sense of belonging can be life-changing.

Looking Ahead

Maureen will be travelling back to America in October, but plans to keep creating, wherever she is.

“I’ve returned to painting after a long time away, and I’m using it as a spiritual practice – a way to honour the places I love. When I get back to America, I plan to start doing soul portraits. But I hope to keep tag-teaming between here and LA, where my other son lives, and whenever I’m in Edinburgh, I’d love to work at EOW again.”

 

Thinking of Joining EOW?

Whether you’re a visitor like Maureen or a local maker looking for a studio to rent, Edinburgh Open Workshop offers:

  • Affordable artist studio space in Edinburgh
  • Access to shared wood, metal, and textile workshops
  • A warm and welcoming creative community

Come for a tour, meet the team, and see if it feels like home…

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