Tag Archives: Leith

Workshops

Seeing the shapes when sketching

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The latest Zoom workshop with Cassandra was all about looking for the shapes in buildings which can often help you sketch out a scene.

We used tracing paper and print outs from photographs I had taken in Leith. The idea was to highlight the shapes I see when looking at a scene and then use those shapes to draw your own version, block by block.

If was great fun and the 75minutes flew by, and we managed four quick drawings in that time. I love sketching with a fineliner brush as you can get both fine lines and thick brush strokes. I will add a link below to where you can get them.

Our next workshop is live on Zoom on Tuesday the 1st December, from 7pm and each ticket is £10 or £7.50 for concessions.

You can read more about what we will be doing, the materials you will need and how you can book a place by following the link below. I hope to see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/urban-sketching-with-cassandra-and-mark-gas-lamps-with-andrew-kerr-tickets-121979876093

Daily Sketch

New art in the Haven cafe, in Leith

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haven prints photoThe Haven cafe provides fresh and tasty fry ups from its Anchorfield home in Newhaven.

With friendly staff, fresh made to order food and scrummy home baked cakes it is no wonder this popular cafe is always busy. I love the fact I have a wall of framed artwork for sale there as it gives me the perfect reason to visit!

The Banana Flats sketch, top left is a giclee print which I have added watercolour too to create an original piece, is £49. The square Victoria Bridge, top right is also a giclee print from an original watercolour painted on location in Leith, and that is £65 in the frame.

A true locals secret this place is well worth a visit if in Leith, and much, much better value than many close by. Plus the walls are full of local artwork, what more do you want!

The Haven Cafe website

 

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Filling the shelves at the Scottish Design Exchange

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SDXshopphotoAfter a few days away relaxing with the family last week this last few days has seen me catching up in all directions.

Replying to new enquiries, sending out quotes and packing up merchandise orders is great, as is returning to a voice message from the Scottish Design Exchange in Ocean Terminal, asking for more stock as the shelves are running low!

I spent the morning refilling with new and established lines, well the first hour doing that and then the following two tweaking the display  until I was happy. Have a look in to see a whole range of Edinburgh Sketcher items including totes bags, wooden postcards, magnets, tea towels, mugs as well as mounted prints.

Working for yourself can definitely have its down side, it can be stressful and at times require long hours but the highs far outway the lows, especially when your work is selling 🙂

bagstandards

Thanks for all the support you have given to myself and Edinburgh Sketcher, I appreciate the chance to create and use my passion as my living.

Scottish Design Exchange website

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Coalhill in Leith, Edinburgh

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Coal Hill Leith WAI_130217Early for a meeting in Leith I found time to draw this quiet lane which looks on to Sheriff Brae.

Behind where I was drawing are bollards across the lane which narrows its way to a dead end in front of the Sandport Place bridge over the Water of Leith. Ahead you travel along Sheriff Brae to the Sikh place of worship, the Guru Nanak Gurdwara.

Previously known as St Thomas Church, this beautiful building was built in 1843 as a memorial to the Gladstone Family by Sir John Gladstone of Fasque. John Henderson was the architect, an important figure in the history of the church design of 19th century Scotland..

I love walking around the Water of Leith and finding these landmarks, sketching them and then finding out a little about their history in our ever changing city.

Read more about the Guru Nanak Gurdwara building from the Edinburgh Sikhs website.

This drawing was created on location with a 0.3 uni pin fine liner. 

Daily Sketch

The Shore with India ink

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A new process for me, using black India ink.

My India ink sketch shows Edinburgh’s beautiful docks in Leith, and this stretch of gable ended houses line The Shore, and area of restaurants, cafe’s and pubs. Perfect for a late afternoon summers walk.

Using the India ink with a brush allows for a wide range of strokes and with a little added water a diluted lighter hue can be achieved for shading.

Below is the scanned painting, prints of which can be bought in a mount in two sizes. 150x100mm for £22 and 290x200mm for £34. Drop me an email HERE is you would like a print.

TheShore InkPainting

Illustration painted on watercolour art paper with India ink.

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Interesting lines across Chancelot Mill in Leith

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Chancelot Mill blackYesterday I had a little time free so headed along to Leith in the car looking for interesting places to sketch.

I love how the telephone lines split away over the sketch from the wooden post. With the heavy dirty lines of the mill behind this makes for an appealing view, for me anyway 😉

It’s great to be able to capture Edinburgh landmarks such as this, places that everyone knows as a point on their journey home, or a place that holds memories of growing up close by. There are so many in Edinburgh and talking to people in the city you realise how much these buildings mean to them.

Chancelot Mill is a flour mill producing organic and non-organic flours, bakery pre-mixes, concentrates and sundries for the baking industry in Scotland and the North.

ChancelotMillphoto

The above sketch was drawn with a 0.5 fine liner uni pen and I plan to have a few copies made on giclee art paper that I can then add watercolour too to create many individual pieces of art from this one sketch. Watch this space, I’ll let you know how I get on.

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Never a wasted journey in Leith, Edinburgh

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leith-theatre-and-registrar-officeWhen recently at Leith Regestry Office without an appointment I had time to spare, and time to sketch.

Behind the beautiful building which houses Leith Library and Registry Office is the Leith Theatre, which is also home to the Thomas Morton Hall.

The theatre was a gift from the people of Edinburgh to the people of Leith following the decision on 10th October 1920 to incorporate the Burgh of Leith into Edinburgh.

The theatre has been closed since 1988 but the Leith Theatre Trust was established in 2004 as a community trust with an aim to return the building to a use which will add value to the Leith Community and generate business in the area. Find out more about the building at the link below.

I had to return to the registry office the next day, so if wanting a copy of your birth certificate remember to call ahead and make an appointment!

Sketch drawn on location with ink, watercolour and a ‘water brush’.

Leith Theatre website

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The Dazzle Ship in Leith, Edinburgh

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DazzleShip

Stunning reflections of the mesmerising Dazzle Ship by Ciara Phillips, in Leith as part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2016.

The contemporary coloured Dazzle Ship docked in Leith (near Ocean Terminal) was designed by the Turner Prize-nominated artist Ciara Phillips and will be available to see until August 28th.

Ciara Phillips’ Every Woman was co-commissioned by Edinburgh Art Festival and 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and is actually the fourth Dazzle Shipto be commissioned after similar works in London and Liverpool which collectively commemorate the period from 2014 to 2018.

It wasn’t until I got up close to the shear size of the bold strokes of colour that I fell in love with the piece.

These unmissable floating artworks provide a visual connection to the hundreds of Dazzle Ships that crossed the seas during the First World War.

I had passed the ship by car and seen it from a distance but it wasn’t until I got up close to the shear size of the bold strokes of colour that I fell in love with the piece. Go and see it on the Prince of Wales Dock where there is also information panels telling the story of this artwork and more about the history of Dazzle Ships.

You can also get involved by creating your own ‘dazzle’ design on the Dazzle It App, follow the 14-18 Now link below to find out more.

Ciara Phillips

Edinburgh Art Festival website

14-18-Now website

dazzleshipphoto1

 

 

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The Royal Yacht Britannia created from Lego bricks

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Britannia_Lego detailLego is everywhere in Edinburgh at the moment, including the Royal Yacht Britannia in Ocean Terminal, Leith.

Visit the five-star visitor attraction, regularly voted the UKs best attraction, just now and you will find an 11 foot Lego model of the ship on display. Using 40,000 bricks it took Lego model maker and Arbroath fisherman Jim McDonough, 51, five weeks to complete on his dining room table.

 

Britannia was launched from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank on 16 April, 1953. For over 44 years she served the Royal Family, travelling over one million miles to become the most famous ship in the world.

 

My sketch shows a tiny part of the model and you need to see it up close to realise the amount of work which has gone into the 1/37 scale model.

 

For more information and to book your tickets visit the Briannia website below.

 

Sketch is created in fine liner pen with a watercolour wash.

 

 

Royal Yacht Britannia website

 

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Fascinating facts and fantastic food on board the Royal Yacht Britannia

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Britannia_montageHome to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family for over 40 years the Royal Yacht Britannia has sailed over 1 million miles around the world.

 

Now permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, the five-star attraction is one of Edinburgh’s must see destinations for visitors to the city, however for the Sketcher family it was our first time on board. It was fascinating to see how the Royal family traveled and how homely the boat was, more like a stately home than a boat. The twins (seated under the ship’s bell in the sketch) loved looking around the many decks, cabins and hiding places, sitting in the Captains chair and trying on the uniforms.

 

A nice touch was that as the adults had listening devices telling us about the history of each room the children had their own version with watered down history and ‘Can you find the…’ type quizzes to keep them amused. Look out for the wooden monkey too…

 

Food on board didn’t disappoint either, it isn’t the cheapest place to eat in Leith but the Royal Deck Tea Room is a fine dining experience, with great views over the harbour. The servings are ample and very well cooked.

 

I recommend a trip on board both for those interested in the ships unique history and families after a educational day out, its a fascinating floating museum.

The Royal Yacht Britannia website