Tag Archives: Education

Spooky Sketch Classes this Halloween at Surgeons’ Hall Museums

SurgeonsHall_MuseumNight650This Halloween on Saturday 31st October I will be running three sketching classes at the recently revamped Surgeons’ Hall Museums.

If you haven’t visited since the Edinburgh educational attraction was reopened earlier this month, then this is the ideal opportunity. Open from 10am until 8pm, there will be a number of events taking place throughout the day and evening of the 31st October.

 

I will be using some of the exhibits on offer to share my speed sketching skills, and show how anyone can sketch and create a piece of art that won’t scare you this Halloween!

 

Find out more about the other events happening at the Surgeons Hall Museums Halloween event HERE

Book your place in the Surgeons Hall Sketch Classes on Halloween by clicking on one of the links below.

1pm class

2.30pm class

4.30pm class

Staycation Sketcher: Education and Entertainment in equal measure at New Lanark

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New Lanark is a cotton mill village, founded in the 18th century and is well known for the enlightened management style of Robert Owen. He provided decent homes, fair wages, free health care, a new education system for villagers and the first workplace nursery school in the world, which you can look around today and dress up in Victorian outfits.

Sketcher twins reaction:  J: ‘I loved playing with the old games and jumping (hopscotch!)’  Z: ‘I liked the old school house and Mummy being the teacher’

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A working loom shows a little of the noise that must of filled the area when the mill was at its most productive, while a entertaining ride takes you on a ‘day in the life’ of one of the mills past employees, Annie McLeod.

 

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Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Lanark has been beautifully restored as a living community, which welcomes visitors from all over the world and to cater for all budgets they have a newly opened ‘Wee Row Hostel’ as well as the hotel (with health and fitness club) where we stayed.

 

Accommodation  There is so much to see at New Lanark that staying the night in the hotel is ideal, and the converted mill makes for a spacious and light place to stay, with fantastic views over the River Clyde. We had a family room with a double bed and bunks for the Sketcher twins (which they loved). Breakfast was ample with lots to choose from, plenty to satisfy the fussiest of eaters.

 

Sketching opportunities  There is a fantastic roof garden right in the middle of the village, with stunning 360 degree views including along the river Clyde to the waterfalls, which when back on the ground, are well worth a visit. I love drawing architecture and the buildings here are huge with great perspective, all surrounded by forest and a river. The contrast between strong symmetrical sandstone and lush green randomness is great to capture.

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If you are travelling with a family (or appreciate fine carpentry) be sure to visit the adventure playground. Built on a hill looking down on the mill the parkland is filled with wooded sculptures, paths and activities to keep the kids amused.

How far from Edinburgh? New Lanark is 35 miles south west of Edinburgh, the journey took us just over an hour. Click HERE for directions via Google maps.

 

Mrs Sketcher quote: ‘It’s like going back in time, you soak up the history just walking around.’

For more information about New Lanark, the hotel and the visitor centre click on the website link below.

 

How much? Visitor centre: Adults are £8.50, Children £6 or there is a family ticket for two of each for £25.  Hotel: Rooms start at £65 per person. For more information click on the links below.

 

The New Lanark Visitor Centre website.

New Lanark Hotel

New Lanark Hostel