Tag Archives: workshop

Get creative this summer at The Arienas Collective

ArienasCollective soapmaking A new collective is launched for Edinburgh creatives wishing to try something new.

Yesterday I dropped in to see the new creative hub that is The Arienas Collective, situated in a delightful Georgian mews house in the New Town.

The collective is a group of local artists (hopefully myself included) and designer-makers who are passionate about what they do, and who believe there is a creative soul within everyone waiting to be released. Run from a central Edinburgh home environment attendees will be encouraged to relax and lose themselves in their creativity, experiencing a wide range of different processes. Such classes as Photography, Screen printing, Sketching, Soap making and Calligraphy.

Running both open classes where people can make friends and grow confidence in their own skills within a like minded group, and also private groups where friends and family can come to celebrate and create,  I think it will be a huge success and I look forward to being part of its growth.

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Yesterday I sketched proceedings but will have to return myself to have a go, especially the screen printing and calligraphy.

For more information visit The Arienas Collective website below and book yourself in for a creative day soon, I might see you there!

The Arienas Collective website

The Scottish Soap Works on facebook.

A Sketching Day inside one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful locations.

ARsketching4The Assembly Rooms Edinburgh recently opened its doors for sketchers.

This Georgian venue, which lies at the heart of the New Town celebrates its 230th year in 2017 and to mark this, and the 25oth year of the New Town itself there are a number of one off events taking place.

One of which was my Sketching Day Tour when a number of keen sketchers were invited to tour the glorious interiors of the Assembly Rooms and make some beautiful watercolour sketches.

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We had a great time capturing both details and tricky perspectives in pen before adding watercolour washes with a cuppa and a chat.

I really didn’t know what to expect , my favourite part was to find myself increasing in confidence during the course

This was a great way to kick of my season of Sketcher Days in and around Edinburgh, which will include the Old Town, the West End and Lauriston Castle. If you would like to book a place at my next Sketcher Day click on the link below.

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It was perfect! – I believe you have influenced my life for the future.

Sketcher Days in 2017

More about the Assembly Rooms events here. 

Drawing inspiration from the George Street Assembly Rooms interiors

AssemblyRooms BallroomWindowJoin me for a sketching workshop inside the iconic Edinburgh venue in it’s 230th year with this one day only experience.

Explore the timeless elegance and beauty, the enormous crystal chandeliers, gleaming gold leaf and giant gilt mirrors with a sketch book in hand, using ink and watercolour to bring your visit to life.

With helpful instruction from myself, you will quickly pick up sketching skills while increasing confidence in your own artistic ability as you tour the various rooms of this Georgian venue.

Once we have filled your pages with beautiful ink drawings, we’ll end our tour with tea or coffee and time to add watercolour to our sketches and compare our doodles around a table in this relaxed and friendly workshop.

No previous experience is required for this relaxed and informal drawing tour and all materials are provided.

Click here to book your place on this limited event.

 

Capture the stunning city of Stirling with my latest Sketching Day Tour

Stirling CastleCome with me this April to sketch Stirling’s imposing fortress and medievil old town in watercolour and charcoal.

For one day only on 29th April 2017 I will be running a day of sketching workshops with The Curious Thing, drawing on location in this central and vibrant Scottish city.

We will focus on pen and watercolour in the morning session which runs for 3 hours from 10am to 1pm and will head out sketching for the first two hours, followed by a relaxed sit down with a cuppa while we add watercolour to our creations.

In the afternoon (2pm-5pm) we will use charcoal to capture the city’s medieval buildings and stonework, giving an atmospheric twist to your work. Again we will head out for a couple of hours before taking a seat to add detail and discuss our creations,

No previous experience is required for this informal and relaxed workshop as I will be on hand throughout to direct and give guidance as you create your own personal sketches of your visit.

Tickets can now be booked for this one day only very limited event, follow the link below to reserve your place via The Curious Thing website. I look forward to seeing you there.

Book your ticket for the morning session (£24 per person)

Book your ticket for the afternoon session (£24 per person)

The Curious Thing website

Culross Sketching Workshop

sketching3Recently I ran a sketching tour around the stunningly beautiful village of Culross in Fife.

As one of my last sketch tours of the late summer I had been asked to run a sketching and walking tour of Culross by the National Trust for Scotland.

We investigated the burgh’s architectural history through observation and drawing, the accompanying sketchers improving their artistic skills as we discovered some of the hidden architectural gems in this beautiful village which looks unchanged since the 17th century.

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The village was a revelation to me, as I hadn’t been before and was blown away by the beauty of its cobbled streets, gable ended buildings and steep winding paths.

If you havent been then you should, it is like being on a film set, and Culross has been used for many different locations in the Outlander TV series in season one and two.

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Here are some of our sketches from the day. I can’t wait to return in 2017, hopefully to run another sketch tour. Let me know if you would be interested in attending such a sketch tour of the village.

Culross on the National Trust For Scotland website.

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Drawing the Collection at Surgeons Hall Museums’

surgeonshall_sep16_sketchers1On Monday I ran two sketching workshops at the wonderful and facinating Surgeons Hall Museums in Edinburgh.

As it was the September Bank Holiday, I was asked to host two sketching events looking at the exhibits on show inside The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, which was initially established as a medical teaching resource but now welcomes one and all to discover the mysteries and wonders of historical medical science.

I find looking at the specimens, ailments and medievil looking implements (that were used not that long ago) so interesting, and spot similarites to items found in hospitals today. Seeing and reading about the many ailments that at one time would of been fatal leave me with an feeling of gratefulness of being born in this age!

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Museums and galleries are a favourite of mine as I spent a lot of time there as a youngster, especially on rainy days 🙂 They are such an inspirational place to be in.

On the day we took pens and paper around the museum drawing diferent objects, sometimes as a group and sometimes on our own before heading to the Autonomy Lab to add watercolour and charcoal to our drawings.

Here are some of the very good results from the two workshops, thanks to all who came along and had a go.

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Drawings all made with watercoluor, fine liner pens and charcoal.

Surgeons Hall Museums’ website

Spend this September Bank Holiday sketching at Surgeons Hall Museums

watercolour-examplesThis coming Monday, 19th September I will be running two sketching workshops at the fascinating Surgeons Hall Museums in Edinburgh.

After sketching the exterior of the magnificent Surgeons Hall with a workshop in May I will be returning on Monday 19th September to capture some of the interesting exhibits inside the Edinburgh attraction, home to the largest and most historic collections of surgical pathology in the world, including bone and tissue specimens, artefacts and works of art.

I will be giving speed sketching tips and helping you capture your view in ink, charcoal and watercolour. All abilities are welcome for this relaxed and engaging workshop in interesting and stimulating surroundings.

Places are limited so book your place now at the link below.

Workshop 1:  Time: 10.30am – 1pm (2.5 hrs)  Price: £6 (£3.50 concession)
Workshop 2:  Time: 2pm – 4.30pm (2.5 hrs)  Price: £6 (£3.50 concession)

Book Your Place Here

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Wonderful workshops of Hamilton & Inches

HamilltonInches_TheRookBehind the purple exterior of 87 George street hides a world of creation, skill and mystery.

Paul - Click for a full image
Paul – Click for a larger image

Celebrating 150 years of creating handcrafted silver Generations of skilled workers create amazing pieces of jewellery.

Jewellers and silversmiths for 150 years, Hamilton & Inches is home to generations of craftsmen, creating amazing pieces in their three story workshops in centre of Edinburgh’s George Street.

Recently I had the privilege of meeting a few of their creative geniuses.

Like Paul and his dad Panos who is training his son in the art of being a silversmith. In this sketch Paul is ‘chasing’ a Kelpie candle holder, With a drawing for reference he hammers out a 3d image of the famous Andy Scott design.

And Rowena, who was on placement from university, learning on the job skills surrounded by such beautiful pieces and talented people must be amazing. When I was there Rowena was filing down some tiny pieces for a silver pendant.

In another room Master Engraver, Ruairidh was engraving a silver Quaich.

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Rowena – Click for a larger image

Surrounded by sharp implements, mini hammers and intricate detailed designs on pieces of paper taped to the desk, and with an eye held magnifying glass and earphones in place he was in a creative world of his own.

So go along and see the Rook on George Street and the beautiful items on display in the George Street shop, and spare a thought for the skills that go into such objects, skills that haven’t changed for 150 years.

All sketches were made in the workshops of Hamilton and Inches, with black fine liner and a watercolour wash.

Hamilton and Inches website

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Ruairidh

A Weekend Drawing at the Museums

museum1Two very different drawing workshops at two of Edinburgh’s fantastic museums.

On Friday night the National Museum of Edinburgh of Chambers Street hosted their latest Museum:Lates event, this time themed around their Celts exhibition.

Revellers could take a break from the bar and live music in the main hall and chill out creating Celtic designs to colour in. Below are a few photographs from the night, which was a huge success. The Celts exhibition runs until 25th September 2016.

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Then on Saturday I was up early to run a number of workshops at Surgeon’s Hall Museums to mark the Festival of Museums weekend.

Celebrating the magnificent architecture within the Surgeons Hall courtyard we sketched various angles in black fine liners and watercolour. It was great to be sketching in the sunshine, and to share some of my speed sketching tips to a great bunch of artists.

Below are a few photos from the gloriously sunny day. If you would like to come sketching with me keep an eye on my Sketching Workshops page, where I will post all details and links to where you can book a place.

I hope to see you sketching soon!

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Celts exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland.

Surgeons Hall Museums website.

Celtic creativity this Friday night at the National Museum of Scotland

FramedDesignTomorrow an evening of Celtic entertainment takes over the National Museum of Scotland.

With live music, Celtic inspired DJ sets, silent discos and even a silent ceilidh the evening should be a huge success. There will be food and drink served in the main hall and creative activities including facepainting and temporary tattoos on ffer around the museum.

I will be there with a couple of tables offering Celtic creativity in the form of either designing your own Celtic pictures to colour in, or try sketching some of the exhibits from the Celts exhibition, which runs until the 25th September.

Above is my coloured in Celtic design, and below part of the process. Find me on Friday night to make your own Celtic symbol design.

Buy your ticket to Museum Lates: Celts at the NMS websiteceltictrace