ELEMENTUM
The Borders Distillery x Vicky Paul
Sotheby's Distillers One of One 2025
A one-of-a-kind artwork created from the character, craft and spirit of Borders whisky.
The Borders Distillery Commission
Capturing the spirit of the Borders
In 2025, I was commissioned by The Borders Distillery to create a one-of-a-kind artwork for The Distillers One of One, the prestigious charity whisky auction presented in partnership with Sotheby's at Hopetoun House in Scotland.
Following a visit to The Borders Distillery in Hawick, I created Elementum - a 21 litre vessel housing a unique single malt created exclusively for the auction.
Rather than simply illustrating the whisky, I wanted to translate its character into colour, texture and movement: the fruit-forward spirit, the passion of the people who make it, the surrounding Tweed Valley and the five core elements of Borders’ distillation.
Vicky Paul is a Scottish contemporary abstract artist based in Edinburgh, creating original paintings and bespoke artistic collaborations inspired by place, energy, story and sensory experience.
The Making of Elementum
“I wanted to capture the spirit of the brand, the craftsmanship of the distillers, the Lowland flavours and the multiple elements in the alchemical process of whisky making.”
The artwork evolved intuitively through layers of colour, texture and mark-making.
Elementum is a 21 litre repurposed ceramic vessel inspired by the Distillery’s fruit-forward-flavours, the passion of its people, and the five core elements of Borders distillation: copper stills, water from the River Teviot, yeast, local barley grown exclusively in the region, and human spirit.
The Borders distillers selected the best spirit from American Bourbon and French Oak Ex-Douro Valley wine casks and created this singular expression of their work.
Elementum’s colours are symbolic, and capture the essence of Borders spirit; blues and turquoise for the river and sky; pinks, reds, and purples for the Borders people’s passion; metallics and neutrals for barley and yeast; and pops of yellow and orange which govern our sense of identity and creativity.
Elementum is gilded in copper leaf, reflecting the copper stills of the distillery. A natural sea sponge was used to create a bubble-textured background, evoking the distillation process and the company’s focus on sustainable Whisky production.
Elementum at Sotheby's Distillers One of One
Elementum became Lot 20 in Sotheby's 2025 Distillers One of One auction.
This event brought together one off Scottish whiskies created by some of Scotland's leading distilleries.
The work was exhibited at Sotheby's New Bond Street, London, before returning to Scotland for the auction at Hopetoun House.
Sotheby's described Elementum as a “21 Litre alchemical vessel” with an estimate of £10,000 - £15,000. Sold for £20,000.
When a brand becomes a work of art
Elementum showed me the potential of bringing my intuitive approach to painting into a completely different creative context - translating place, provenance, sensory experience and story into an original work of art.
I am now exploring bespoke collaborations with Scottish distilleries, luxury brands and organisations, creating original artwork inspired by their products, places, stories and sense of identity.
A whisky. A place. A story.
Translated into something that exists only once.
Bespoke collaborations
I work with brands and distilleries to create:
One-of-one collector's pieces
Bespoke painted vessels
Artwork for limited editions
Anniversary commissions
Art inspired by place and provenance
Creative collaborations for launches and events including Live Event Painting
Workshops combining art and whisky
As seen in
Elementum was exhibited at Sotheby's New Bond Street, London as part of the 2025 Distillers One of One preview.