Tag Archives: lion

Daily Sketch

Blossom heaven in the Meadows

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The ‘Lion’ of Arthurs Seat sleeps on a bed of blossom.

I love this view of Arthurs Seat, ever since it was pointed out to me that the volcanic remains look like a lion looking out past Leith into the Forth.

For this sketch I visited the Meadows on the south side of Edinburgh during the month of May. The all to fleeting time when the city is awash with blossom and the Meadows park in particular dramatically changes colour with large stripes of pink.

It’s a time I have caught a few times with my watercolours but this one of the ‘lion sleeping’ is a new one for me.

Available as a print HERE.

Daily Sketch

Castle at night for the Castle of Light

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I was lucky enough to be invited along to see the new Castle of Light nightly event at Edinburgh Castle.

To see this historic building transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour and storytelling is spellbinding. Projection of light and film, animation is such a great way to bring buildings to life at night, and with the castles rich history there is plenty to draw on.

Walking around the cobbled, lamp lit streets of the castle at night was special too, I felt I was in Victorian Edinburgh, climbing up and down the ‘castle village’ of stone buildings, statues, steps and street lights. It is so atmospheric, even before the animated dragon breathes fires across the castle walls!

This stunning lion greeted us on the way in the castle gates.

Our kids loved it, and combined with a poke of chips and a hot chocolate from the Castle esplanade while looking at the sparkly views across the city, it made for a lovely festive night.

The Castle of Light – Hidden Treasures night show is on until 9th Jan at Edinburgh Castle, for more information and to book visit their website HERE.

Daily Sketch

The Lion of Scotland, in St Andrews Square Edinburgh

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StAndrewsSq_LionThe sculpted lion of St Andrews Square looks splendid in the Edinburgh sunshine.

I love this beautiful sculpture by Ronald Rae which lies in the city centre grassland. Carved with hand tools only from Aberdeenshire pink Corrennie granite, the charming animal is a firm favourite of visitors and residents of Edinburgh. I remember first seeing the mighty piece of art outside the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, near Arthur’s Seat, which itself looks a lot like a crouching lion. The ‘Lion of Scotland’ sculpture moved to St Andrews Square in 2010.

 

Until now I was unaware that the lion is for sale, currently on loan to Essential Edinburgh and not a permanent feature of Edinburgh. Let’s hope this can change at some point as to me, and many others it is an Edinburgh landmark.

 

Ronald Rae website

 

 

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