Tag Archives: edinburgh

Daily Sketch

Drawings from the Lauriston Castle Garden Party

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LauristonGardenParty_LawnLast weekend I was invited to the Community Garden Party with the Lord Provost at Lauriston Castle in Edinburgh.

The Lord Provost was there to award Edinburgh’s many volunteers, those recognised for their crucial contribution to local life. He said: “I want this celebration to recognise and reward those who make a positive contribution to our great city – particularly the unsung heroes who give up their time tirelessly for others and for the good of their local community.”

 

Afternoon tea was served in front of the historic castle, on the croquet lawn which was where I drew the illustration above. In the foreground you can see the very talented Davidson’s Mains and District Pipe Band, who played while guests arrived and throughout the evening.

 

LauristonGardenParty_Marquee

 

There was also a marquee with various singing and dancing groups entertaining the guests. Above is a sketch with the Sco Vibe fusion orchestra on the stage. Part of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sco Vibe is open to young musicians aged 11-18 from any musical background, including classical, folk, rock and pop.

 

Although a bit windy, the sun stayed out and it was an honour to be meet many of Edinburgh’s contributors, and see their everyday efforts recognised. Below are a few more sketches from the afternoon, click on each one to enlarge.

 

LauristonGardenParty_Arriving LauristonGardenParty_PipeBand LauristonGardenParty_Constables

 

 

My next Lauriston Castle sketch class

 

Scottish Chamber Orchestra website

 


Davidson’s Mains and District Pipe Band website

 

 

 

Daily Sketch

New pens for a familiar sight of Edinburgh Castle from Inverleith Park

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Castle from InverleithParkWhat better view to test out some new Chameleon blending pens than that from Inverleith Park across Edinburgh.

Recently I pedalled along to Inverlieth Park in the north of Edinburgh to try out some new colour pens. I had been asked to create a wee workshop or step by step guide to using the new blending pens which use alcohol based ink and a mixing chamber of toner to blend the markers colour as you draw.

 

They take a bit of getting used to but can achieve amazing results. Basically you start drawing with an almost a white shade of your chosen hue and then over a few seconds the pen turns darker and a more true colour is achieved. See the link below at Cut Out + Keep for my full tutorial and step by step guide to using the pens.

 

Cut Out + Keep website

Chameleon Pens website

Daily Sketch

Happy Sketcher Twin, watching diggers in Edinburgh

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JamesDiggersIt’s holiday time for the wee ones and as Mrs Sketcher and I juggle our four year old twins this afternoon I took them to the shops.

The sun was surprisingly out this afternoon and as the kids and I didn’t want to head indoors we hovered near the entrance to the St James Centre on Little King Street. Sketcher Twin 1 was happy watching the workers digging up the road outside John Lewis, even following the wee tipper up the road with its full load of rubble.

 

He could of watched all afternoon but Sketcher Twin 2 was restless and ready to head indoors to Tiger Tiger for paper and crayons 🙂

Daily Sketch

Great King Street in Edinburgh’s New Town

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GreatKingStreet This is Great King Street in Edinburgh’s stunning New Town, drawn in black ink fine liner for a client.

Edinburgh’s New Town is home to sunning Georgian architecture, straight lines and symmetry that stands in stark contrast to the Old Town and its higgledy piggledy closes and cobbled alleyways. I love the contrast, and walking around the grandeur of the New Town from George Street down in to Stockbridge and the Water of Leith is one of Edinburgh’s joys for me, and a must for any visitor.

 

GreatKingStreet_crop

My commissions start at £75 for a sketch roughly A5 (150x200mm / 6×8”) in black ink and with or without a colour wash.

For a larger A4 (200x300mm / 8×12”) drawing the price is £115 for black ink only, £145 with a watercolour wash.

A larger A3 (300x420mm / 11.7×16.5”) sketch is £195 for black ink only, £235 for black ink with a colour wash.

Further sizes and prices are available on request. Sketches can be framed, for an added £15 (A5) and £25 (A4). Prints start at £18 for 150x100mm and £32 for 290x200mm.

 

Competition

The WhereArtI Quiz, 13th July

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ES_WAI_130715WhereArtI time we are back in Edinburgh… but where?

 

There are points on offer for the first three correct answers and bragging rights for a week. Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come before the end of the day.

 

If you would like to sponsor the quiz or indeed feature in the quiz, then get in touch HERE.

Daily Sketch

Introducing my latest stockist: Thread & Heather

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ThreadandHeatherThread & Heather is a new craft showcase and haberdashery/craft supply shop in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh.

A tardis of a premises situated at 131 Gilmore Place, from the outside it looks tiny but head through the door and you will find a long tunnel of unusual and bespoke gifts. Keep walking to the rear of the store to find a bright room filled with craft tools and delightful details to aid your creating.

 

I could of spent plenty of time with the felt and fabrics, jewellery and beads, fancy papers, cutouts and sticky things making a right mess!

 

Feeling creative? Then pop along and buy some beautiful ingredients to make your own gift, or have look through the treasure trove of gifts made by local artists, there is something for everyone at Thread & Heather.

 

The sketch is in black ink with a watercolour wash.

 

Thread & Heather website

 

Daily Sketch

Buy a limited print commissioned to mark 10 years since the Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh

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MakePovertyHistoryTen years ago today world leaders came to Edinburgh for the G8 summit, and with them around hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who marched through the city in the hope of forcing those leaders to cancel world debt.

On July 2nd 2005, 200,000 people caused Edinburgh to come to a standstill, as the Make Poverty History march wound its way along Princes Street. To celebrate I have created this ink and watercolour illustration of the crowds on the capitals main thoroughfare, with Edinburgh Castle in the background.

 

There will only be 250 high quality signed prints made, they will cost £28 each and measure 28 x 28cm. £10 from each print will go to Jubilee Scotland to fund their campaign for debt justice.

 

Buy your copy HERE.

 

The original ink and watercolour illustration is available, framed for £250, with 50% going to Jubilee Scotland. Email medirect if you would like to purchase the original.

MakePovertyHistory_crop

 

Jubilee Scotland

More about the lead up to the march in 2005 from Edinburgh Evening News

 

Daily Sketch

Father’s Day at the National Museum of Scotland

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FathersDay_MuseumLast week I was at the Father’s Day Family Takeover at the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, Edinburgh.

For the second year running Dad’s Rock and a huge number of local companies and volunteers took over the stunning venue to celebrate Father’s Day. I had a stall in the main hall this year from where I ran sketch tours and provided lots of drawing, painting and messy fun with my Edinburgh themed activity sheets.

 

The colouring in sheets were hugely popular, especially the Shore and Victoria Street. They were beautifully and enthusiastically coloured in by the parents as much as the children, so thank you to everyone who stopped by to mess up the table!!

 

My activity sheets went down so well I’ll be creating  an Edinburgh colouring book. More to come soon…

 

FD_1

FD_2 FD_4 FD_3

 

See the Dad’s Rock website for their free summer events in 2015.

 

 

Competition

The WhereArtI Quiz, 29th June

37 Comments

ES_WAI290615WhereArtI time in the wonderful city of Edinburgh. Can you find me?

 

There are points on offer for the first three correct answers and bragging rights for a week. Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come before the end of the day.

 

If you would like to sponsor the quiz or indeed feature in the quiz, then get in touch HERE.