The art dealer and owner of Edinburgh’s Viki Knott Gallery on the thrill of unearthing forgotten artists, her love of modernism and why she never switches off

How has your style evolved over the years?

My style and taste have shifted constantly as I’ve immersed myself in different areas of dealing and retailing; sometimes out of curiosity, but mostly out of practicality while raising my kids. Now that they’re older and chasing their own dreams, I finally feel like I’m in a place where I can be purely me and experiment with different styles. I’m building a home and a business that reflect who I am in this moment, without compromise.

Who or what are your biggest influences?

Every singleminded human who has walked their own path, whether in fashion, music or design; people who have stuck two fingers up at the status quo and ploughed ahead with an unbreakable work ethic. Annie Lennox and Pam Hogg are two Scottish powerhouses who come to mind.

Who is your design hero?

Denise Wren, who co-founded Oxshott Pottery in 1920. We sold work by her recently and she has stuck in my mind ever since. She wasn’t chasing trends or trying to impress anyone – she just worked, experimented, taught and built, and when the pottery was struggling, she didn’t fold. She saved it with her own fabric designs, selling them to Liberty of London to keep everything afloat, all while wearing one of her own handmade silk dresses every single day. That’s someone who lived their craft and had integrity.

What’s your favourite building?

I always gravitate towards clean lines and modernism. Peter Womersley’s studio for Bernat Klein in the Borders is a standout. My favourite secret find is a small 1950s industrial waterworks building hanging over the reservoir above West Linton.

Describe your dream home

It would combine both the business and my living space. An old city warehouse with an internal flat, modest and compact but with enough room for the kids to come and stay. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a small south-facing courtyard garden, parking and that modernist feeling of clean lines and purpose. A place where I can unload the van and photograph new work, cook and entertain without breaking a sweat. Industrial, functional and warm, all at the same time.

What is your own home like?

Surprisingly, my flat is not in the modernist style; I get to scratch that itch through the industrial space I have for the gallery. My home is like a womb: comforting, warm and like a huge cuddle. There are colours everywhere, textiles and books – and, of course, my own art collection takes up nearly every free inch of wall space.

What motivates and inspires you?

It’s the hunt. The thought of finding the next unknown or forgotten artist. Every so often I come across a body of work that no one has looked at properly or given any energy to. That’s when something switches on in me. I start piecing together who they were, how they lived, what they were trying to do. There’s something powerful about giving someone their first proper showing, even if they’re no longer here to see it. Hanging their work, building a collection, letting people finally clap for them. I’ve heard so many stories of artists, especially women, who never got the chance to follow the path they wanted. That’s what keeps me going. It’s always the human stories.

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In the frame: Gabriella Bennett, journalist and author of How To Build A City