I live just along a bit from here and its a nice half hour wander with a pint at the end, and those views are amazing. Seals are often seen from the window seats and they also have outdoor seating overlooking the bay between Granton and Newhaven.
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.
I crossed the Queensferry Crossing last week for a day of sketching in Fife. This ink and watercolour drawing was created at the boat yard in North Queensferry as I was being battered by winds and showers!!
I couldn’t leave before I caught the three boats resting in the mud. I love to sketch these with a minimum of ink and a splash of colour and then zoom in to see them on their own. I just imagine the adventures they must have sailing underneath the huge iron arches of the Forth Bridge.
A fantastic place to draw and also sail under, I have in the past been lucky enough to pass under all three bridges with the Maid of the Forth and recommend you take one of their trips around the Forth.
This sketch was drawn with a fineliner and watercolour set on location and can be bought as a high quality print here: BUY THIS PRINT.
Last week I ran a painting and sketching activity on a boat trip along the Firth of Forth with the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative.The IFLI is a Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership Scheme which focuses on the upper Firth of Forth area. A beautiful and often overlooked part of the country home to a wide range of wildlife and plant life.
I had visited the area with IFLI on land for a sktch trip to the stunning hidden world of Kennetpans Distillery, but that as I said was on land over the Forth Bridge and along the A985 to the Kincardine Bridge.
This time we were to travel under the Kincardine Bridge on the Maid of the Forth passenger boat, which regularly ferrys people over to the island of Inchcolm.
Around ninety people boarded at South Queensferry and we headed west under the road bridge and almost finished (the multiple sections of road are almost touching) South Queensferry Crossing. It was amazing to see these huge structures from a new angle, the stormy reddening sky behind made the view unforgettable.
We passed by various interesting sites like Rosyth Dockyard with its tenant aircraft carriers, the smoke and flame bellowing from Grangemouth contrasted well with the ghostly, now unused Longannet Power Station. As we passed by each experts took turns on the microphone to tell us about each location.
I had given out pen and paper for passengers to try and capture the sites as we floated by, and below are some of the great sketches people created.
On the lower deck I set up a watercolouring table where paint could be added to sketches drawn or visitors had the option of colouring some pre drawn line drawings. Below is a selection of those created.
There was a great atmosphere on board and I thank all those who took part and got into the sketching spirit. It was facinating to see an area I thought I knew from a completely new perspective so thank you to IFLI for providing such a trip. Have a look at the links below for similar events in the future, and remember to take your sketchbook!
Below are a few more of my sketches from the trip, click on each to see a larger version.
The view from the New Town in Edinburgh down Howe Street and over the Firth of Forth into Fife is one of my favourites in Edinburgh.I’m lucky enough to see this view most days, in all seasons. But this week, on a sunny spring day I had to stop the car and sketch it. The Church in the foreground is St Stephens Church and if you follow the road to the left you drop into Stockbridge, a beautiful part of the city full of eateries and charity shops.
The sketch is in fast drying black ink with a watercolour wash over the top. The original is still for sale and prints are available from my shop, starting at £18.
Today I had a personal tour of Lauriston Castle, which over looks the Firth of Forth in the North East of Edinburgh.I was only there for a quick look around, scoping the beautiful grounds and luxurious interiors of the castle for some sketching next week. I have visited the grounds in the past, there is a beautiful Oriental Garden and the views of the Forth to Fife are amazing. Especially now when there are daffodills are out all around.
But I had never until now and can’t wait to return next week to sketch more. Each of the grand rooms are packed with trinkets, portraits and beautifully crafted furnature, most of which are hundreds of years old.
The sketch above is from one end of the library, in a well lit corner of the room lies a writing desk and sculted chair, surrounded by books and ceiling to floor windows. Check back next week when I will have more to see after my second visit.
