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Oil and Glass to rock into Torry

A new art gallery and workshop is set to open in Aberdeen, after councillors approved plans to convert a former bookmakers for use as a Retail Rocks business.

The premises at 64 Victoria Road, Torry, will house Oil and Glass which will operate as a gallery and workshop specialising in the manufacture and sale of contemporary arts and crafts, with a focus on visual arts and glasswork.

The Retail Rocks project, in which Aberdeen City Council is a lead partner, aims to reduce the number of empty shop units in Torry and support entrepreneurs in developing their businesses in the area.

The Development Management Sub-committee unanimously approved a planning application by the council to convert the premises.

Retail Rocks, which will see six new businesses launched in Torry town centre, has been funded by the Scottish Government with £573,000 from its Town Centre Regeneration Fund, with £584,000 of support from Aberdeen City Council, and further in-kind and sponsorship backing from external sources.

Retail Rocks attracted bids from 32 hopefuls who were keen to pitch their business ideas to breathe new life into one of the units on Victoria Road and Menzies Road.

The budding entrepreneurs were whittled down to a shortlist of 12, who then presented their business plans to a selection panel of local and national business men and women and a representative from the Torry community.

The six winners will have the opportunity to turn their business idea into reality in a fitted-out shop unit, rent-free for a year, and with support from business experts to help them prosper.

They are:

• Shelagh Swanson from Fittie - Oil and Glass contemporary art and craft gallery and studio, 64 Victoria Road;
• Renee Slater from Torry - Inkwire, 22 Menzies Road;
• Roselyn Emmanuel from Cove - Wonderfully Made fine arts designs, 26 Menzies Road;
• Claire Milne from Rosemount - Peapod Furniture Restorations, 28 Menzies Road;
• Ewen Allardyce for North East of Scotland Credit Union - Home Maker, including white goods and financial services, 32 Menzies Road;
• Lindsay Stott/Steven Bedford from Rosemount - Mnemonic Photography,  specialising in stylistic portraiture, 39/41 Victoria Road.
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