Looking back from Gladstone Court through an allyway and onto the Royal Mile. Not a view the average tourist will get to see, but one I’m glad I sought out. It’s amazing how peaceful and crowd free it can be when you take a step back from the usual route.
I started with a humble biro, all I had on me, or so I thought. For when that began to fail and the ink dried up, I found a pencil deep in my bag with which to finish the shading. I am pleased with the result, however unplanned.
Not far from the day job on the Royal Mile lies the Canongate Kirk, which is currently enjoying a celebrity status amongst the tourists of Edinburgh due to an upcoming wedding. The Church of Scotland Kirk is to be the venue for Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall’s marriage on July 30th 2011. Holyrood Palace is within the Kirk’s parish and this is where the reception will be held.
This is my sketch using pen and then pencil to shade, from within the Kirk.
Tomorrow night (Wednesday, 29th June) there will be a free concert in the Kirk by the Phoenixville Christian Choir. See www.canongatekirk.org.uk for more information.
A quick snapshot of my visit to Canongate Kirk yesterday. The proper scan to come later as I have a busy day today.
QnA: Why are some churches called ‘kirks’?
@ArmedForces_Day yesterday and today too. We were at Holyrood and espite the downpours the crowds turned out in large numbers to see military displays, tornado flyovers and a large display of vehicles, including this helicopter and a number of dessert armoured trucks.
There was lots for the kids too, with climbing walls, inflatable assault courses and even sumo westling suits. If you didn’t get yesterday then head along this afternoon, it sounds a noisy one with a ‘pipes and drums’ parade from the Castle to Holyrood Park and then a ‘battle of the bands’ show.
Today the sun came out long enough to enjoy a coffee in the park. Plus a bit of felt tip colouring.
Long may the summer last though now it has arrived, I swear I felt the back of my neck burning while I drew this 😉
Or even yesterday, which is when I tried to visit the Brass Rubbing Centre, just off the Royal Mile, down Chalmers Close. Unfortunately the was a sign up saying the building was closed until further notice.
The sketch shows the BRC sign on the outside of the building known as Trinity Apse, part of the 15th Century Trinity College church and hospital. The original Trinity church was demolished in the 1840s to make way for Waverley Railway Station, but the apse was rebuilt on its current site from original stones in the 1870s.
Perhaps they are refurbishing the interior, I’ll have to pop back and see.
The bus ride to work today, very damp and very bumpy. The blue pen works well in the rain! Have a good day Edinburgh.
Down South visiting my family over the weekend, in lovely Lancashire. Sunday morning and the rain was lashing down over my Mum’s house, just outside the village Chipping.
By lunchtime the skies had cleared and we walked into the village, but this sketch was drawn in the morning, looking through glass doors onto the garden.
We spent a lovely day today catching up with family. The day included a colouring session with Holly, one of my nieces.
She asked me to make this colourful sketch of the twins while we were waiting for our dessert.
Not too early, up at seven today for their first feed of the day. Just afterwards when they are content and playful, we chat on the comfy mat before a wee snooze and then lunch!
