ABOUT

Judi Milne, Artist & Designer

 

The Merry Thistle began with a wee thistle doodle that’s followed me through the years. It has grown into a brand that reflects my love for the Scottish outdoors, blending the colours of our landscapes with fun and fresh design on a range which includes, natural, salvaged and recycled materials. Throughout my varied career as an artist, my love for all things Scottish has been constant. Every piece inspires its own wee poem, which stems from years of reading Oor Wullie and the Broons. I loved the wee one-liners at the top of every page! 

 My work includes homeware, jewellery, stationery and accessories, that I hope will raise a smile.

Mair aboot me …

Born in 1970 in the small fishing village of Cove Bay in northeast Scotland, I grew up surrounded by art, motorcycles, and animals—a mix that has influenced every part of my creative life. I studied Art and Design at Aberdeen College and began my career as a graphic designer before moving into freelance cartooning while completing a tattoo apprenticeship.

This path led me to a unique place in publishing history as the first female cartoonist to work on The Dandy comic for DC Thomson in Dundee. Around the same time, I began what would become a 27-year career in tattooing, eventually opening my own studio, Ink Minx Tattoos, in Montrose, which I ran for 23 years.

During the 2020 lockdown, I began exploring machine embroidery design—combining my love of line work and colour with textiles. In April 2025, I retired from tattooing to focus full-time on embroidery and design. I now work from my home studio in rural Laurencekirk, The Bob Tree Electric Embroidery, where I create bold, expressive pieces that draw inspiration from my background in tattooing and illustration.

While I love designing bright, tattoo-style patterns, my personal style is grounded in calm, earthy tones and natural materials with a bit of humour, jist like my Merry Thistle.