Shaping space and experience with Katy Fowler
For nearly twenty years, Katy Fowler has been working behind the scenes of festivals and live events, helping to turn empty fields, city squares and temporary sites into places of connection and joy. Her skill lies in the details you rarely notice but always feel - the smooth logistics and unseen work that makes an event effortless.
Now rooted in Leith, Katy has brought that same energy to Away Industries, a restored merchantâs house reimagined as an intimate, industrial-chic venue. Part history, part blank canvas, the space has quickly become a distinctive setting for creative gatherings, small weddings and cultural moments. We caught up with Katy to hear about her journey, her approach to creativity and space, and whatâs next for her as both a producer and a creative.
1. For those who havenât met you before, how do you describe what you do?
Alongside running Away Industries day to day as its in-house Event Manager, I am an experienced event producer and project manager with almost two decades working behind the scenes of live events, festivals, creative productions and cultural programmes. I specialise in delivering the smooth, unseen logistics that make events feel effortless: coordinating artist and talent movements, accommodation and travel, building detailed schedules, and overseeing everything from temporary site builds to VIP care.
2. What is Away Industries, and how did the idea for it begin?
Away Industries is a restored merchant’s house, re-imagined as an intimate, industrial-chic venue. We offer a distinctive setting to host bespoke events, micro weddings, elopements, pop-ups, photoshoots and product launches. Originally we opened Away Industries as a co-working and meeting space but soon realised we needed to evolve. Our contemporary and intimate space and atmosphere really is unlike anything else in Edinburgh.
3. What made you choose this old merchantâs house in Leith as the home for it?
The building, its history and the industrial history of Leith. Our listed building is one of the oldest on Constitution Street, Leith - a classical townhouse built in 1793 for merchant Thomas Williamson. From the early 20th century, the former townhouse operated as a branch of Bank of Scotland. We continue to use its original steel vaults today, preserving its history while shaping a new future for the space. Leith has a rich history of industry and we want to contribute to preserving that for future years.
4. The building has so much history. What was the journey of bringing it back to life?
Itâs been about respecting what was already here while opening it up for the future. We restored original features like the fireplaces, floorboards and cornicing, but also leaned into the industrial edges, the shutters and the exposed floors. It was about letting the character of the building shine through rather than covering it up. In a nutshell, it was a lot of dust, rubble sacks, sanding and drilling.
5. Youâve worked at some of the UKâs biggest festivals. How has that shaped the way you think about creativity and space?
Festivals, especially greenfield events where every bit of infrastructure is temporary, show that anything is possible and that space can transform people. A park, a square, a field - with the right care and imagination, they become places of connection and joy. Thatâs the approach Iâve brought to Away. Itâs not just about walls and floors, itâs about what happens when people come together for an event.
6. What makes Away Industries different from other work or event spaces in Edinburgh?
Away Industries isnât a traditional venue with fixed packages or formulas. Itâs a blank canvas and backdrop, but with personality and depth. The building has quirks, history and texture, which gives it soul, and I love working with people to shape and produce it into whatever they need it to be.
7. How do you hope people feel when they come through the doors here?
I hope they feel inspired but also at ease. My hope is that Away Industries is an approachable and welcoming space where people can host anything from a bespoke event or dinner to getting married.
8. Whatâs next for you personally as a creative, alongside running Away?
Iâm looking forward to balancing Away Industries with my freelance clients and projects, bringing the energy of large-scale events into new kinds of work while Away gives me a rooted base here in Leith.
