Tag Archives: holyrood

Daily Sketch

Abbey Strand gardens

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I was inspired by the calm and relaxing gardens on a wintry afternoon.

Last week I ran a couple of workshops within the Palace of Holyroodhouse and I was so inspired by the light in the gardens that I made this sketch.

I hadn’t been in the gardens since they were reopened along with the Abbey Strand Buildings, which now are home to the Learning Centre, providing spaces for school groups, families and adults to learn about and engage with the Palace and the Royal Collection.

The sun was just hitting the tops of the buildings as I stood in the gardens painting, I think it was the highest the sun rose that day.

My drawing was created in ink and watercolour, below you can see a photo from the gardens.

Find out more about the Abbey Strand buildings on the Royal Collection Trust website HERE

Daily Sketch

Power to the teachers

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Today the teachers were on strike, for the first time since the 80s.

Today I was running a very enjoyable sketching workshop in the Palace of Holyrood House and over the road I could see and hear the strike protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

I had a walk over to make my sketch and there was a lovely vibe as teachers from various schools held flags and home made banners asking for a pay rise and more up to date facilities.

My two kids are off today too, and I hope the teachers get what they want. They do an amazing job and in my opinion they, and the kids they teach and look after deserve all the help and support we can give them.

Find out more about the strike below, on the Educational Institute of Scotland website.

https://www.eis.org.uk/latest-news/firststrike

Daily Sketch

Exciting times at the Palace of Holyrood House

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Queens Gallery at HolyroodAs we enter our second week of March the temperature in Edinburgh is little above freezing causing my outdoor sketching sessions to become shorter and shorter!

I was at the Palace of HolyroodHouse this morning for a meeting and update on the interesting changes soon to be happening there over the next two years. Changes including a learning centre which I hope run a series of exclusive workshops from.

Also very exciting is the plan to open up the palace forecourt to the public, currently only accessible to visitors buying a ticket.

I will let you know more about my workshops at the palace once they are confirmed and in the mean time you can find out more about the upcoming changes at HolyroodHouse from the link below.

Palace of Holyroodhouse website

Queens Gallery at Holyrood - photo

Daily Sketch

Climate Change demonstration sees thousands of postcards delivered to Nicola Sturgeon

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ClimateChangeYesterday environmental campaigners gathered at the Scottish Parliament to give Nicola Sturgeon thousands of postcards asking for action against climate change.

The postcards, delivered by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS), contain personal messages from members of the public, detailing the way things they care about are being threatened by climate change. I wish I could of sketched the above drawing on a postcard to pass on too!

 

I was passing by the Scottish Parliament yesterday when I noticed the large crowd who had gathered to demonstrate on Climate Change. Musicians were playing, kids running about and there was a happy vibe to proceedings, as representatives from various organisations all campaigning together stood up and said a few words to the crowd.

 

I like the idea of writing personal postcards from members of the public, rather than just a signature on a petition. I just hope Nicola has the time to read a few of them.

 

My drawing above is from the other side of the road looking on to the parliament. I liked the reverse showing of the ‘Climate Justice Now!’ banner. Sketched in pen with a watercolour wash. For more information from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland see the link below.

 

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland website

Holyrood Magazine

 

ClimateChangeCrop

 

Daily Sketch

Equal rights in Scotland

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RainbowFlagCelebrations in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland as the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood passed laws to legalise marriage between same sex couples.

 

Scotland became only the 17th country in the world to adopt the change and MSPs voted overwhelmingly in favour; 150 for, 18 against. The debate was bitterly fought by supporters and non-supporters, but for those celebrating today I feel the result stands for equality and a freedom of choice that many take for granted.

Daily Sketch

Five trees at the Scottish Parliament

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ScottishParliament_TreesI walk through this park outside the Scottish Parliament most days, but today the colours of these five trees stopped me in my tracks.

 

I have tried to capture their beauty in the strong November sunshine with a touch of watercolour, on top of a black ink sketch drawn on location. The concrete seats in the foreground and angled pond to the right make up a beautifully landscaped garden, which today was full of the worlds media waiting on the SNP’s White Paper for Scottish Independence. I was looking the other way 🙂

 

 

  • The Scottish Parliament

 

Daily Sketch

Muddy festival

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Thanks to @EdinSpotlight and #foodiesfestival  for the inspiration for this sketch of one of the tractors at this years Foodies Festival trying to make its way through a field full of mud.

When asked if I had ever sketched mud before I realised I hadn’t, and with the recent weather in Edinburgh there is a lot of it about. Plus I like the image of the tractor in this photo, I thought it would be an interesting challenge.

I drew the line drawing with a fine line pen, adding the colour wash on the Pc after I had scanned the original.

See the original photo from Edinburgh Spotlight here: http://twitpic.com/64upsm And if you are heading to Foodies Festival in Holyrood park today be sure to wear your wellies.

Daily Sketch

Armed Forces Day

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@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.