This sketch is from my lunch stop at Cafe Truva today. The lovely Mediterranean inspired cafe on the Royal Mile is half sheltered from the sunshine under huge pillars. Although not wanting to waste this glorious weather we are having in Edinburgh just now, I sat on the sunny side of the terrace!
Note: They serve lovely coffee 🙂
I was on the Royal Mile today waiting for friends at the corner of North Bridge. This is the beginnings of a sketch looking up the High Street with the restaurant Bella Italian on the right.
It was all I had time for, maybe I’ll finish it next time I’m there. Then again maybe not, as there are always new views to sketch in this beautiful city!
This is Gibb’s Close on the Royal Mile. Currently the shop on the ground floor is a hive of activity, vans lining the street (I had to pick my moment to sketch well) and inside wires hang from the ceiling and boxes fill the floor space.
For Gibb’s Close is in transformation, and by this time next month it will be the second outlet of Mimi’s Bakehouse, the first is down at the Shore, Leith. They specialise in homemade baking, afternoon tea and exquisite lunches, and I for one am looking forward to their new take away shop opening soon. To keep up to date with Mimi’s follow their facebook page HERE.
I stopped at Cafe Truva this morning to finish the sketch and add the watercolour wash. It was a perfect morning for some alfresco sketching 🙂
This sketch is of the bright and colourful blossom currently on show in front of the Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile.
I must walk or cycle past the Kirk most days and it was great yesterday to get a little time to sketch and colour the trees outside. I’m afraid I don’t know what kind of trees they are, perhaps someone could tell me?
I’ve sketched inside the Kirk before, HERE is a link. Just before the marriage of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall there, a couple of years ago. It’s a stunning building, inside and out.
You can find out more information about Canongate Kirk on their website HERE.
This is the first time I’ve sketched a ‘save the date’ card. A couple recently got in touch to ask if I could create a sketch for them to send to guests of their upcoming wedding in the capital. I incorporated a large sign in the foreground of this drawing of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s Old Town, so I could include the details of the big day (I’ve blurred out the date).
The sketch is drawn in fine liner black pen and then a watercolour wash added for a little colour. We included a couple of hidden messages in the signs on the opposite side of the road, for instance the canon and gate on the right signifies the couples wedding venue, the Canongate Kirk.
Its a lovely way of sending your guests an original piece of art for them to keep safe until the big day, and show them a glimpse of Edinburgh. If you would like to commission a Save the Date card then please get in touch HERE to discus further.
Along with the original sketch I will also provide a digital print ready version via email and on a CD for you to take to your printer. If you wish I can also arrange printing through my own printers here in Edinburgh.
This alleyway is off the Royal Mile, I pass by it almost every day and always glance in, seeing the ever decreasing doorway shapes merging into one another as you move past the opening.
I must of thought of sketching it a hundred times and now I finally have, mainly thanks to the pouring rain. I was looking for shelter on my lunch hour and remembered about this wee close. I still don’t know where it goes, another rainy day perhaps.
The sketch is made using a fine liner black pen and then coloured using my letraset range of grey to black marker pens. Below is a photo I took on the day.
This policebox on The Royal Mile was getting a make over this afternoon. I captured this talented sign writer adding letters to the outside of the now kiosk which stands in front of Starbucks near Festival Square.
The kiosk looked to be selling fizzy drinks and chocolate as well as ghost tours around the old town.
On a walk through the madness of the Royal Mile in Festival Fringe time I spotted these performers. Dressed in Victorian clothed they all white painted faces, black eyes and lips, and holding frames up to their faces.
I’m not sure what their show was about but it may have something to do with miscarriages of justice?
Walking up the Royal Mile today on the walk home and the festival spirit is definitely in the air. The market stalls are up selling jester hats and tie dyed t-shirts. The rickshaws are out in force too, I don’t fancy that job with Edinburgh’s hilly cobbled streets.
Altogether now, ‘Booooo!’ Yes I found myself behind one of Edinburgh’s traffic wardens this morning, merrily making his way down the Royal Mile, scanning the alleys and closes for illegally parked cars.
I couldn’t resist a wee sketch as I followed, I must of looked a little funny to passers by though.
I take it they used to have blue uniforms?
