Tag Archives: sunset

Sunshine on Glasgow

A flying visit to Glasgow this week as MyWeddingSketcher

A midweek wedding at the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow on St Vincent Street. What a stunning building, and really pretty part of the city, just up the hill and away from the busy shops.

The wedding party had photos taken in Blythswood Square and below is a sketch of the college. Great architecture and such a mixture of buildings in Edinburgh that I love the random beauty, I must go back soon.

Before I left I made a quick sketch from the Buchanan Galleries as the sun came down on the famous shopping high street.

Teatime trip to the seaside

Last night the Sketcher family took a trip to the beach by the bridges, ate fish and chips and enjoyed the epic views.

I had to hand over some artwork to a client coming from Perth so South Queensferry seemed a great place to meet. My family and I headed there with a plan of walking along the pebbled beach, up into the village and then sitting in between the old and new bridges, enjoying a fish supper.

And the weather didn’t disappoint, the recent mixture of strong sunshine, wind and frequent showers has made for some stunning skies.

Although I missed the later rainbow I did see this wonderful subtle shades of golden brown underneath the two road bridges. The land blending into the clouds in the distance.

The ink and watercolour original of this measures approximately 6×7 inches and is for sale for £75.

Signed and mounted prints are available for £30, sized at 8 x 10 inches. Message me below if you would like to purchase the original and click HERE to purchase a signed print.

Greyfriars Bobby, drawn in pencil, ink and watercolour

Greyfriars Bobby (Brewhemia)A sign of true devotion, Greyfriars Bobby deserves a pat when visiting Edinburgh. 

Skye Terrier Bobby belonged to John Gray, an Edinburgh City Policeman, who when he died in 1858 was buried in Greyfriars  Kirkyard. Bobby was then said to spend his remaining 14 years by the side of his master’s grave.

In 1867 the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Chambers, who was also a director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, paid for Bobby’s licence and gave the dog a collar, now in the Museum of Edinburgh.

A year after the dogs death this drinking fountain was commissioned by Lady Burdett-Coutts, the statue was sculpted by William Brodie.

Sketchbobby photos

Mounted prints of this drawing of Edinburgh’s most famous dog can be bought online in either 150x100mm for £18 or 200x290mm for £32 plus postage.

This sketch was drawn in pencil and then inked over the top. I then erased the pencil marks before adding a watercolour wash.

Buy a signed copy here.

Museum of Edinburgh website.

Edinburgh’s Street of Light

streetoflight-georgest_colourA splendid show in Edinburgh as the sun falls on the Street of Light.

This week we have had some stunning sunsets in the capital, and sun rises too as the weather stays mild and wet. I captured this one on George Street recently as the sun fell and the city began to sparkle with the bulbs of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations.

After last year’s successful Royal Mile residency for the Street Of Light the walk though light show has now moved to the West End of George Street.

It’s great to have Edinburgh’s Christmas stretching out to the West End as many of the markets and rides are in East Princes Street Gardens.

I recently took the family to the European Market but on a weekend the crowds are too squashed to be comfortable with little ones so it was nice to have the George Street attractions and the Scottish Market to visit instead.  (I recommend visiting the European Market mid week as we did, much easier to move around).

streetoflight-georgest_colour-crop

The Scottish Market in West George Street is a winter showcase of some of the best craft, food and drink that Scotland has to offer, and includes a favourite of mine: Mimi’s Bakehouse.

Both the Street of Light and the Scottish Market will be on George Street until Christmas Eve.

My sketch is drawn with black ink and a watercolour wash.

Edinburgh’s Christmas website.

Afternoon reflections on Edinburgh windows

treerefelctions1Yesterday I was near to the Meadows park in Edinburgh’s South Side when I noticed the beautiful reflections on the tall tenement windows.

As the sun began to set over Edinburgh’s central park, the houses that run around the edge shone with a beautiful gradient of colours, with dark angular shapes showing the mighty trees hanging on to their final leaves.

Often wen sketching, knowing when to stop can be a difficult task. An over worked line drawing can look too dark, messy and leaving the white areas can be just as important as marking the dark. Adding colour can be the same, often I add watercolour to the whole image only then wishing I had left more white to show the contrast.

So on this sketch I asked social media, should I add colour to the sandstone or leave the sketch with only the window panes coloured?

If was a close thing with the ‘leave it like it is’ option winning 22 : 18.

So here it is once scanned. I like the fact the windows are highlighted by being the only part coloured in, sometimes it is good just to step back from the picture and leave it for a while. You can always come back to it later.

This sketch was drawn on location with a 0.3 fineliner and watercolours.

refelectionsphoto