Tag Archives: festive

A beacon of light

As the new year starts I feel a certain de ja vu with vaccinations being offered around the country as the new variation of Covid continues to spread.

Thanks must be given to NHS workers once again as they continue to man the clinics, pop up centres and drive through vaccination locations.

I was in Ocean Terminal this week and noticed this previously French Connection unit being used as a walk in vaccination centre. The sky outside was dull and inside the shopping centre had a darkness apart from these bright windows, and the festive decorations.

Let’s hope the rest of the year looks a little more like ‘normal’ than in 2021.

I do like to zoom into my sketches and blow them up so below is a close up of the queue into the centre.

The link below has all the information about where you can get your booster or third vaccination in Scotland.

https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx

Christmas creations

Enjoying some well needed family relaxation this week after a busy December.

The weeks leading up to the 25th were very busy for me with commissions, deliveries and keeping my wonderful retailers fully stocked. And although I am very grateful to be so busy I am now extremely thankful for my down time with my family, relaxing and enjoying not doing too much.

We have been very creative though, enjoying baking, lego building and fimo moulding to name a few. Also my son James received some lovely pastels from Santa and I couldn’t resist borrowing them to make this drawing of our Christmas tree.

I have a hard time doing nothing!

George Street at Christmas

Christmas on George Street and great to see the busy thoroughfare full of life once again.

As shoppers rush about grabbing their last minute presents I stood up on the Ice Rink bridge to get this view along the Georgian shopping street.

I really liked the ice rink working its way along this city centre location and hope it returns here again next year. I have taken some photos to create a sketch of the skaters in action so watch this space to see that one soon.

Festivities begin on Princes Street Gardens

A toned back Christmas on Princes Street looks just great this year.

I am loving this years back to basics Christmas Market at the Scott Monument Princes Street Gardens. I had a wonder round this morning and it’s great to see more of the gardens and the iconic views and monuments on show, just with a little festive twinkle.

Well done all at Edinburgh’s Christmas and a Merry Christmas to all!

Castle at night for the Castle of Light

I was lucky enough to be invited along to see the new Castle of Light nightly event at Edinburgh Castle.

To see this historic building transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour and storytelling is spellbinding. Projection of light and film, animation is such a great way to bring buildings to life at night, and with the castles rich history there is plenty to draw on.

Walking around the cobbled, lamp lit streets of the castle at night was special too, I felt I was in Victorian Edinburgh, climbing up and down the ‘castle village’ of stone buildings, statues, steps and street lights. It is so atmospheric, even before the animated dragon breathes fires across the castle walls!

This stunning lion greeted us on the way in the castle gates.

Our kids loved it, and combined with a poke of chips and a hot chocolate from the Castle esplanade while looking at the sparkly views across the city, it made for a lovely festive night.

The Castle of Light – Hidden Treasures night show is on until 9th Jan at Edinburgh Castle, for more information and to book visit their website HERE.

Festive Cheer on the Streets

A new #supportabusinesssketch for the new year and this beautiful shiny shop front is the Mark David Salon in Henderson Row.

During the festive break the Sketcher family when out on our daily walk would pass by Henderson Row frequently on a circle rout through Stockbridge and Inverleith Park.

This shop front (at 83 Henderson Row) always caught our eyes, with beautiful baubles and flowers, and a nutcracker drummer model, at first I thought it was a florist there were som many flowers and plants outside.

But this is home to the Mark David Salon and they provide a huge range of treatments and pampering, relaxation and escapism for both men and women, something which is very well needed for everyone just now!

Double check on their website for up to date details about the latest restrictions due to the pandemic, and when they can take appointments again.

https://www.markdavidsalon.com/

I am using my #supportabusinesssketch drawings to give a little boost to the independent businesses which make Edinburgh so special, especially during the current pandemic and lock down restrictions.
Also I am drawing each one in a new style of pencil and watercolour, which makes them quite distinctive and different to my usual ink drawings. See more of the support a business sketches by clicking HERE.

Dancing on George Street to Silent Light

Edinburgh’s Christmas Silent Light brings together two great ideas – a sparkly light installation and a silent disco!

On Monday evening I found myself dancing through George Street with Mrs Sketcher and around a hundred other revellers grooving to Christmas tunes whilst 60,000 lights above my head flashed to the music.

There are up to five Silent Light shows a day, each 20 minutes long. We enjoyed the Christmas Crackers playlist but there are two others: Santa’s Sparkles, especially suitable for families, and Disco Delights for the party crowd.

Tickets are £4.50 with 50p from every ticket purchased for Silent Light goes to support One City Trust, a charity fighting inequality and exclusion in the city.

I really enjoyed the experience, dancing away on the cobbles with wireless earphones tuned into festive tunes. I surprisingly forgot I was outside in the middle of Edinburgh’s city centre. Grab a ticket now and go with your friends or family, and be sure to have a dance.

I will be returning with our two kids as I’m sure they will love it – and they serve yummy hot chocolate (as well as a selection of alcoholic drinks) too 😉

The sketch above was drawn in black ink on location and then coloured later.

Book your tickets here at the Edinburgh’s Christmas website

Christmas doodles from two weeks with the family

Christmas Tree detail 2016Christmas is my favourite time of the year and this time I enjoyed two full weeks away from the computer.

Although I couldn’t stop myself from sketching occasionally I did take the fortnight off to spend with family and friends and enjoyed the lack of screen time, returning in the second week of January refreshed and ready to plan my 2017.

Here are my sketchings from the time off, now scanned in and cleaned up for you to see.

I know Christmas already feels a long time ago but these are very happy memories for me, and only 10 months until we do it all again 😉

All the best for 2017 everyone!

Christmas Fireplace 2016Stargazer 2016Quality Street Fudge

Merry Christmas everyone, from my home to yours!

xmasfireplaceFilled with Christmas cards, family photos and happy memories. Our festive fireplace makes me happy 🙂

This is the Sketcher family fireplace, and looking at it makes me feel all Christmassy. I hope you are all having a lovely relaxed time with family and friends, or just enjoying some peace and quiet over the festive period and recharging the batteries for the new year to come.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Bright lights in the dark sky as Edinburgh’s Christmas entertains

EdinburghsChristmas
It’s that time of year when it’s dark going to work and dark coming home, that is unless you work in the centre of Edinburgh where the city’s Christmas lights brighten up the sky.

 

I’m sure many of you pass by this sign a couple of times a day, it is above the Jenners end entrance to St Andrews Square, currently unrecognisable as it is in full Festive mode. Inside you will find fair ground rides shows and market stalls for all the family, not to mention an ice rink around the Melville monument.

 

Definitely make time to visit if you can, and let Edinburgh’s Christmas put you in the festive mood! Also… be sure to pop in to Mimi’s Cake Cabin for some delicious treats and warming coffee.

 

Edinburgh’s Christmas website