Duns — City Guide for Artists – Reviewed by Artists

Why Duns works as a residency town

Duns sits in the Scottish Borders, surrounded by farmland, big skies, and historic estates. You are not going there for a gallery strip or a constant run of openings. You go for time, space, and a residency ecosystem that quietly punches above its weight.

The draw is simple and strong:

Landscape and quiet: rolling fields, woodland, and access to coastal and inland scenery. Great if you work from observation, place, or atmosphere.
Serious studio infrastructure: the Hugo Burge Foundation has turned Marchmont Estate into a major residency hub, with proper studios and dedicated accommodation.
Residency-to-exhibition routes: some programs feed directly into public outcomes like Borders Art Fair or festival platforms.
Less noise, more work: it is easier to commit to a new body of work when you do not have city distractions every night.

Duns itself is a small market town, so you are working in a retreat context with real, but modest, local services: shops, a few places to eat, basic amenities. The art energy is concentrated in the residencies rather than sprinkled through high street galleries.

Core residency infrastructure: Hugo Burge Foundation

If you are looking at Duns for a residency, the Hugo Burge Foundation is the center of gravity. Their studios at Marchmont Estate underpin most of the serious opportunities in the area.

What the Hugo Burge Foundation offers

The foundation runs a large programme of residencies through the year, often fully funded. They support a wide range of practices, including:

Visual arts and sculpture
Drawing, painting, print-based practices
Spoken word, writing, and research-led projects
Performance and theatre writing
Botanical art and other specialist strands, depending on the year

Expect some mix of:

Dedicated studio space: converted spaces like the Old Squash Court Studio and other purpose-built workspaces on Marchmont Estate.
On-site accommodation: living and working on the estate, so you are not losing time commuting.
Funding support: many residencies are fully funded and may include a stipend.
Mentorship and professional development: some partner residencies bring in curators, historians, or organisational mentors.
Public-facing elements: open studios, talks, or exhibitions, depending on the specific programme.

The overall feel is structured but not over-programmed. You get a clear framework and support, but still enough space to actually make work.

Who this suits

The Marchmont-based residencies are especially strong if you:

Need immersive time away from city life to build a new project or body of work.
Value a rural environment but do not want to sacrifice facilities and professional support.
Like having a defined outcome (exhibition, fair presentation, public event) at the end of a residency block.
Are comfortable working semi-independently, with occasional structured input rather than a daily programme.

You will see a mix of open calls and partner awards, so it is worth checking both the foundation’s site and their collaborators for current opportunities.

Useful starting points:

Residency-to-exhibition pipelines near Duns

Duns is unusual for a rural town because some residencies feed directly into public events. If you like having a clear presentation point, this matters.

Borders Art Fair x Hugo Burge Foundation Residency

This residency is a key bridge between making in Duns and showing to an engaged audience. It runs at Marchmont Estate, typically in the Old Squash Court Studio, and is run in partnership between Borders Art Fair and the Hugo Burge Foundation.

What you can usually expect:

Approximately a month of studio time: time to create a focused body of work in a dedicated space.
Support from the foundation: practical help, access to the estate environment, and often a clear structure for the residency period.
Exhibition at Borders Art Fair: work made during the residency is then shown at the fair, giving you direct public visibility.

Previous Borders Art Fair residents have included artists such as Sharon Quigley, Anna King, and Aine Divine RSW, all working with painting and drawing in different ways. That track record suggests the residency works especially well for visual artists whose work can be installed on a fair stand and hold its own in a busy environment.

Who this model suits:

Visual artists wanting a clear arc from studio time to public presentation.
Artists who respond well to deadlines and a defined end goal.
People comfortable showing alongside a broad range of other artists and galleries.

If you like the mix of quiet studio time and a direct audience, keep an eye on Borders Art Fair’s residency page:

Borders Art Fair – Artists in Residence

Partnered and award-based residencies at Marchmont

The Hugo Burge Foundation also works with other organisations to host award-based residencies that still sit in the Duns area. The specifics change year to year, but some recurring types include:

Royal Scottish Academy visual art residencies: studio, accommodation, stipend, and mentorship from art professionals.
Royal Society of Sculptors residencies: for members of the society, focused on sculptural practice.
Edinburgh Art Festival Artist Award residencies: connecting residency time at Marchmont with long-term research and festival visibility.
Summerhall or theatre-writing residencies: combining time at Marchmont with performance development and collaborator support in Edinburgh.

These are not all open calls in the same way: some are restricted to alumni networks, society members, or award recipients. Still, they give you a sense of how Duns is plugged into a wider circuit of Scottish and UK arts organisations.

To track these, it helps to follow not just the foundation, but also partners like the Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Society of Sculptors, Summerhall, and Edinburgh Art Festival.

No31 Artist Residences: quieter, self-directed stays

Not every artist wants a foundation structure or a residency that ends with a fair. In Duns, No31 is the key alternative.

What No31 offers

No31 is a studio and cottage set in a tranquil garden in Duns. It is open to artists and creatives of any kind, and the setup is more like a live/work retreat than a formal programme.

The core elements:

Studio space: dedicated studio on-site, suitable for a range of practices.
Cottage accommodation: you live where you work, in a quiet garden setting.
Flexible structure: no heavy programming, so you set the rhythm and goals for your stay.
Open to different practices: visual artists, writers, and other creative workers can all make use of the space.

No31 is especially good if you want to keep things simple: arrive, set up, work, rest, repeat. You are still in Duns itself, so you can walk into town for supplies while keeping a sense of retreat.

More info:

No31 – Artist Residences

Who No31 suits

No31 is a strong fit if you:

Prefer self-directed residencies with minimal obligations.
Want a calmer, more domestic environment rather than an institutional setting.
Are working on something that does not need big equipment or specialist studios.
Value having both privacy and walkable access to a small town.

If you get overstimulated by group programmes or need to rebuild momentum in your practice, this kind of residency can be very effective.

Practicalities: life and work in Duns

Cost of living and budgeting

Duns is generally cheaper day-to-day than a city, but there are trade-offs.

Where you save:

Rent and overheads: if accommodation is included in your residency, you cut out a major cost.
Going out: fewer options mean fewer impulse expenses on restaurants, bars, and events.

Where you need to plan:

Transport: reaching Duns usually involves a train to a larger town, then a bus, taxi, or car. If you are on a longer stay, factor in at least some taxi or car hire costs, especially if you are on Marchmont Estate.
Materials and specialist supplies: expect to order online or bring more with you if your work needs specific tools or media.
Short-notice travel: last-minute trips to bigger cities for openings or meetings add up.

Funded residencies at Marchmont often include a stipend, which can make the financial side workable even if you are self-employed or between other jobs.

Choosing your base: town, estate, or countryside

The main decision is how close you want to be to everyday amenities versus how much you want seclusion.

Duns town centre: walking distance to food shops and basic services. Ideal if you are at No31 or renting independently, and you want easy access to supplies without a car.
Marchmont Estate / near Duns: the core site for Hugo Burge Foundation residencies. You get immersion and beautiful grounds, but you are less likely to walk to shops. A car or organised supply trips help.
Wider Berwickshire countryside: great if you crave isolation and are happy cooking, walking, and working in a quiet setting. Works best if you have your own transport.

If your practice relies on large-scale materials, regular printmaking, or fabrication, consider whether the residency can support that logistically before committing.

Studios and workspace realities

Most serious studio infrastructure is concentrated at Marchmont Estate:

Old Squash Court Studio: generously scaled, good natural light, often used as the main residency space for artists in programmes like the Borders Art Fair residency.
Other dedicated studios: the estate has a growing set of studios adapted speficially for residents, usually with enough room for painting, drawing, sculpture, or writing setups.

No31 adds a smaller, more intimate studio option within Duns. Between these two models, you can choose between a foundation context and a more private, cottage-style setup.

Getting to Duns and moving around

Arriving in the area

Duns is not on a major rail line. Typical travel patterns include:

Train to a larger hub (for example, Edinburgh or Berwick-upon-Tweed).
Local bus or taxi into Duns or directly to Marchmont Estate, depending on where you are staying.
Driving in, if you have access to a car for the residency period.

Residency organisers often give detailed arrival instructions and may recommend specific stations and routes. If you are bringing large amounts of work or equipment, a car or booked taxi is usually the simplest option for the last leg.

Transport during your stay

How much you need transport depends on your setup:

On-site accommodation and studio (Marchmont or No31): you can usually work, sleep, and cook without needing daily travel. Many artists only leave occasionally for supplies or walks.
Off-site accommodation: if you are staying in town and working on the estate (or vice versa), you will need to plan transport. Factor that into both time and budget.
Exploring the region: the Borders are beautiful but dispersed. If you want regular trips to coastlines, hill areas, or nearby towns, a car makes life easier.

If your practice is heavily site-responsive, consider how you will reach your sites reliably, especially in bad weather.

Visas and paperwork for non-UK artists

If you are not a UK or Irish citizen, you will need to check which entry route applies to your residency. A few key points to think about:

Residencies with a stipend, fee, or performance element can be treated differently from a simple self-funded studio retreat.
Even when you are not formally employed, presenting work, giving public talks, or leading workshops can affect what permission you need.
Hosts can often signpost you to general guidance, but they cannot give official immigration advice.

It is wise to:

Ask the residency organiser exactly what activities are expected of you.
Check official UK government guidance for artists and performers travelling for cultural work.
Build in time before your planned residency start in case you need to apply for a visa.

Local art networks and how to plug in

Because Duns is small, the local art “scene” is more of a network than a neighbourhood. The key anchors include:

Hugo Burge Foundation and Marchmont Estate: the main residency and studio cluster, often hosting events, talks, or open days tied to resident artists.
Borders Art Fair: a regional fair that draws artists, galleries, collectors, and locals. A good way to understand the wider Borders art ecology.
Creative Arts Business Network (CABN): a support network for creative professionals in the Scottish Borders, sharing opportunities, events, and resources.

Useful links:

During a residency, you can usually connect with:

Other resident artists on the estate or in town.
Local practitioners and organisations linked through CABN or Borders Art Fair.
Curators, mentors, or visiting staff involved in partner programmes.

If you want deeper engagement, let your host know early. They can often introduce you to local contacts or add you to low-key public events.

Seasonality and timing your stay

When it feels best to be there

The Scottish Borders change a lot with the seasons, and that affects your residency experience.

Spring and early summer: longer days, greener landscape, decent weather for working outdoors or exploring. Good if your practice relies on natural light or location visits.
Late summer and autumn: rich colour in the countryside, still workable light. Great for painters and photographers responding to land and sky.
Winter: shorter days and potentially challenging weather, but a strong choice if you want a more inward-looking period focused on studio work, writing, or research.

If you are sensitive to light levels or rely on natural light for your work, factor that into both your residency choice and your timing.

Application rhythm

Residency calls tied to fairs and festivals are often announced well ahead of their residency blocks. General tips:

Check the Hugo Burge Foundation site periodically for new residency strands and partner calls.
Watch Borders Art Fair channels for residency updates and links to any Marchmont-based artists-in-residence.
Subscribe to CABN newsletters if you want a broader view of opportunities across the Borders.

If you need visas, childcare planning, pet care, or job scheduling, assume you will want generous lead time between acceptance and arrival.

Is Duns the right residency base for you?

Duns works well if you are honest about your needs.

Strong fit if you:

Thrive with quiet and spaciousness.
Want serious studio conditions without city pricing.
Appreciate residencies that connect to clear public outcomes (fairs, festivals, or partner shows).
Enjoy building work in response to landscape, history, or environment.

Less ideal if you:

Rely on dense gallery circuits or regular city openings for your practice.
Need quick access to specialist fabrication or industrial facilities.
Get energy mainly from large crowds and fast-paced socialising.

If the idea of focused studio time, rural surroundings, and a small but serious residency infrastructure sounds like the right mix, Duns is worth real consideration. Start by looking at the Hugo Burge Foundation programmes, then weigh up whether a structured foundation residency or a quieter No31-style retreat matches where your practice is heading next.

Duns, United Kingdom