Tag Archives: Scotland

The WhereArtI Quiz, 27th April

ES_WAI270415
Welcome to a new week and a brand new WhereArtI – can you tell me where I am drawing?

 

There are points on offer for the first three correct answers and bragging rights for a week. Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come before the end of the day.

 

If you would like to sponsor the quiz or indeed feature in the quiz, then get in touch HERE.

 

The Scotland WhereArtI Quiz, 6th April

WAI060415Morning and welcome to the monthly Scotland WhereArtI, can you locate this week’s drawing from somewhere in this beautiful country?

 

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and would like to have a guess at my quiz. There are points on offer for the first three correct answers and bragging rights for a week 🙂 Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come before the end of the day.

 

If you would like to donate a prize for the quiz or indeed feature in the quiz, then get in touch HERE.

 

Remember WhereArtI runs every Monday in the Edinburgh Evening News with a fantastic prize each week. You could win a bottle of Edinburgh Gin

Sketches from Scotland’s partial eclipse

SolarEclipse_2015This morning there was an eclipse of the sun with people all over the world hoping to see the rare event.

Although in Scotland it was a partial eclipse creating a dusk like darkness in Edinburgh, other areas around the world were plunged into darkness as the Moon came between Earth and the Sun.

 

(Surprised to see clear skies) I hastily pricked a hole through a piece of card so I could see the resultant crescent shaped highlight in the shadow of the card. I realise now the shape created within the cards shadow was a reverse of what you would see if looking directly at the sun, but was much safer.

 

I traced over the shape created on my pad at different intervals to create the doodles above. Even in times of global chat and video links it was very exciting to think millions of people were watching a variation of the same event all around the world.

 

Learn more about the eclipse at the BBC News link below, and if you missed this one there will be another in August, 2026.

 

BBC News eclipse coverage

Fine Scottish dining at the Scotsman Hotel

TasteofScotland_MenuThe North Bridge Brasserie within the Scotsman Hotel offers an exquisite five course ‘Taste of Scotland’ menu.

I’m a huge fan of good food, and all things Scottish so when I heard that chef Paul Hart had combined the two in a fine dining multi – tasting experience,  I had to try it… and sketch it.

We began with perfectly cooked, hand dived Orkney scallops. Followed by haggis neeps and tatties, then Loch Etive seatrout and Shetland mussels. We travelled the country, all from our North Bridge Edinburgh base.

The finale (just as Mrs Sketcher and I thought we could fit in not a morsel more) was perfectly chosen. The Granny Smith apple and savarin cheesecake was light as a feather, the accompanying sorbet so refreshing.

Head Chef Paul combines locally sourced ingredients at their freshest,  and is constantly tweaking and adapting his menu to suit the seasons. In my sketch above I have tried to describe all five courses of a superb Scottish dining experience, but there is no substitute for tasting the real thing and for that I suggest booking a table at the link below.

 

The North Bridge Brasserie website

The Scotsman Hotel website

 

Sketches from Murrayfield as Scotland take on Italy

RBS_ScotHalfTime

On Saturday I was lucky enough to sketch at Murrayfield Stadium, home of Scottish rugby as Scotland took on Italy in the RBS Six Nations. These are my sketches from what was a fantastic spectacle, albeit with a disappointing scoreline.

 

Leading until the final seconds Scotland made the best start with an excellent try securing a 10-0 lead but the Italians came back stron causing the score at half time, as you can see from the sketch above to be 16-15.

 

With a record breaking crowd of over 60,000 filling the stadium the atmosphere was electric but unfortunately most went home dissapointed. The second half became a case of hanging on for the Scots and as the clocked ticked down Italy took the lead.  Click the images below for larger versions.

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RBS_ScotPosts

RBS_ScotKicker RBS_ScotLineout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the rain came down over Murrayfield the supporters spilled out into the streets, my final sketch below seeing three Scotland fans on the walk home.

RBS_ScotWalkHome

 

Scottish Rugby website

Italian Rugby website

Murrayfield Experience website

The WhereArtI Quiz, 2nd February

WAI0202158am on a Monday morning is WhereArtI time, I sketch and you tell me where. Usually in Edinburgh but as it’s the first of the month the answer could be anywhere in Scotland. Can you locate this week’s sketch?

 

The 2015 leaderboard is beginning to take shape, and with points on offer for the first three correct answers all is to play for. Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come this time tomorrow.

 

If you would like to donate a prize for the quiz or indeed feature in the quiz, then get in touch HERE.

 

Remember WhereArtI runs every Monday in the Edinburgh Evening News with a fantastic prize each week. You could win a bottle of Edinburgh Gin plus a tour of their city centre distillery. Buy a copy today to find out more.

A wee beastie sketch for Robert Burns

ToAMouse_Colour
National poet of Scotland, Robert Burns was born on this day in 1759. Here I have sketched a personal favourite of his poems, ‘To A Mouse’.

Starting with the famous words ‘Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie’, the ploughman’s tale tells of a mouse’s nest which is destroyed by the plough, leaving the tiny creature vulnerable to the harsh winter despite her careful planning. Burns notes how like the mouse, man’s best-laid plans often go awry.

 

My sketch is in black ink with a little watercolour on the mouse. I may make it into a tea towel or framed piece on canvas. What do you think?

 

For more information about Robert Burns, who wrote many world famous poems, including ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and ‘A Red, Red Rose’ follow the links below.

 

And be sure to raise a glass to the Baird tonight, when you settle down to your haggis , neeps and tatties.

 

 

ToAMouse_Colour_crop

 

Robert Burns website

Robert Burns National Trust for Scotland

BurnsNight

 

Greyfriars Bobby is honoured on the anniversary of his death, 143 years ago.

GreyfriarsBobbyAn annual commemorative event took place today at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh for the capital’s most devoted dog.

Greyfriars Bobby, the Skye terrier whose loyalty has made him famous and well loved around the world passed away 143 years ago and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Aged 16 years at his passing in 1872 Bobby spent 14 of those years by the grave of his master, John Gray after the policeman’s death from tuberculosis.

 

In Greyfriars Kirk you can visit Bobby’s grave and at The Museum of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile you will find Bobby’s dinner dish and collar. It’s a lovely story of a dog’s loyalty to his owner, even after just a short period together.

 

My sketch is of the bronze statue which was created in 1873 and sits at the top of Candlemaker Row outside the Greyfriars Kirk, and Greyfriars Pub on George IV Bridge, Edinburgh.

 

 

The Museum of Edinburgh

 

More information here at the Greyfriars Bobby website

The WhereArtI Quiz, 5th January

WAI050115It’s WhereArtI Monday, and not only the first of 2015 but the first of a new month and so I could be sketching anywhere in Scotland. Can you name this week’s location…?

 

There is a brand new leader board for 2015 and with points on offer for the first three correct answers all is to play for. And keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come by the end of the day on Tuesday.

 

If you would like to donate a prize for the quiz or indeed feature in the quiz, then get in touch HERE.

 

Remember WhereArtI runs every Monday in the Edinburgh Evening News with a fantastic prize each week. You could win a bottle of Edinburgh Gin plus a tour of their city centre distillery. Buy a copy today to find out more.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Blogmanay, Day 4

ScotLands1_blogmanay2014Yesterday the heavens opened on Edinburgh not that it dampened the spirits at Scot:Lands, a New Years Day event held in secret locations around Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Held in secret venues throughout the Old Town with the very best in music, art and theatre, the event is brand new for this years Hogmanay festival. Visitors first had to head to The Hub on the Royal Mile where they spun a wheel to decide where and what to visit.

 

I saw dance in a Cathedral, heard Rabbie Burns read to guitar music, witnessed nostalgic footage of Victorian Scotland on an outdoor screen (with gorgeous Scottish soundtrack from King Creosote), and listened to angelic Celtic singing in the stunning McEwan Hall.

 

I loved it and hope the event i back next year. Perfect for New Years Day each act  was different, relaxing but engaging. I walked home feeling chilled out and happy 🙂

 

The sketch above was sketched in black ink on location and then coloured digitally later. Below are a few of my other sketches from the day.

 
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay

Scot:Lands

 

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