Tag Archives: skyline

A view through the Botanics

A stunning view on today’s walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh.

Out on my walk today and I had to stop and try and capture this view through the botanical gardens. Looking back through the trees to the Chinese gardens you can see the three spires of St Mary’s Cathedral in the distance.

Inverleith House is just around the corner on the right, with the gallery and cafe too. I love a walk through the ever changing gardens, and think of myself very lucky to have such a walk near to home.

Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh website.

WhereArtI Quiz – 18th April

A great view across the city, but can you tell me where I was to make it?

Where have I sketched this week?

Leave your answer as a comment below, your comment will not show up until I reveal the answer. Get your answer in before 9am tomorrow morning and I will pick a random winner from all correct entries to win a prize.

This week’s prize is a set of six Edinburgh Postcards, each featuring a sketched scene from the city.

Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed, and remember you can also see my weekly competition in the printed version of the Edinburgh Evening News each Monday.

Keep looking up and noticing the beauty in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next!

My Edinburgh sketched merchandise and high quality prints are available on my Etsy shop and I am available for commissions too. Email me at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com for more details.

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Keep up to date with my sketches as I share a more personal look at what I get up to and what I have planned, with competitions, offers and news about upcoming live events and workshops. 

Corkscrew clouds over the city

corkscrew clouds over edinburgh

Amazing skies over Edinburgh once again as Storm Dudley passes by.

This was my view this morning as I looked out of my window above the houses opposite. Have you ever seen corkscrew shaped clouds like this?

They seemed to be twisting as I watched, and frantically grabbed my paper and watercolours in order to sketch this drawing.

Moments later it was gone and then dark stormy clouds moved in.

I know the weather is bringing damage and travel chaos to many so I don’t take it lightly, but I do love the current sky show.

Stay safe out there, and keep your eyes on the skies.

A trip to London

Last week the Sketcher Clan took a trip around the UK, including a day in London.

We drove down through the UK stopping off to see friends and family with the destination of Legoland and a day in London.

With so much packed in the 10 days are now a blur of fun and family time. There wasn’t much time to sketch but in London’s South bank I did get 30 minutes with my daughter to sketch this iconic skyline.

Its amazing to see these huge, beautiful structures in real life, and I will remember sitting there with Zoe in the late afternoon sunshine for a long time.

I will include my daughters sketch once she is happy it is finished!!

The WhereArtI Quiz

Monday 4th January

Can you tell me where in Edinburgh I have sketched?

A skyline changing fast, but where?

Leave your answer in the comment box below.

Your comment will not show up until I reveal the answer. Closing time for entering is midnight tonight and I will pick a random winner from all correct entries by this time tomorrow.

This week’s prize is a screen printed tea towel featuring my illustration of the Shore in Leith.

Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed later today, and remember you can also see my weekly competition in the printed version of the Edinburgh Evening News each Monday.

Keep looking up and noticing the beauty in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next!

My Edinburgh sketched merchandise is available on my Etsy shop and although I am fully booked for Christmas commissions there are plenty of Edinburgh prints available.

Urban Sketching with Cassandra and Mark
Join in my fortnightly online workshops with Edinburgh artist Cassandra Harrison. These Zoom workshops will restart in the new year, on February 9th and then continue on the first and third Tuesday of every month, from 7pm – 8.15pm

Edinburgh Skyline in Rainbow

My lock down influenced rainbow sketch of Edinburgh’s iconic skyline.

I had previously added a rainbow to my Leith Shore print, which you can see HERE but for this week thought about drawing a sketch from the start with rainbow colours.

This view is the iconic capital skyline featuring Edinburgh Castle and the clock tower of the Balmoral hotel on Princes Street.

I started with a pencil sketch of the skyline and then from that top edge drew a block of watercolour down the page.

After leaving to dry I then started added darker washes of each colour to pick out the shadows in the photo. With each darker layer the painting gained more depth.

You can currently buy the original painting which is 297x210mm for £150, which includes recorded delivery. Plus 20% for this sale goes to the NHS Lothian Covid-19 Appeal. More info HERE

Also you can buy prints from £20 from my Etsy shop HERE, with 10% from all print sales of this piece going to the NHS Lothian Covid-19 Appeal.

Rooftop art workshops

Join me sketching from the private 5th floor roof terrace of John Lewis, in the heart of Edinburgh.

Following on from last month’s sketching from within the John Lewis cafe I am pleased to announce two exclusive workshops from the shop’s roof top terrace.

With panoramic views over the north of the city we will draw inspiration from the forth bridge on the left to Calton Hill on the right, and all of Leith below us.

In collaboration with New Town creative hub The Arienas Collective, these two dates (8th August and 15h August) are the first time John Lewis has run workshops from their roof space, and as such are a rare chance to walk out and see this stunning view over the city.

Using black ink and watercolours we will capture the skyline in a number of sketches which will teach you some of my tips to speed sketching and at the same time increase your confidence in capturing your view in a sketchbook.

We will also mount our favourite drawing to take home.

Tickets to this 2.5 hour workshop which runs from 10am – 12.30pm on both 8th and 15th August are £38 and include all materials needed and also a tea or coffee.

Places are limited to ensure more one to one time as I work around the group. To book your place click on the correct date below.

John Lewis Rooftop Sketching – 8th August – 10am

John Lewis Rooftop Sketching – 15th August – 10am

Calton Hill views over the city

On Wednesday I was out sketching in the warm spring air, capturing the Edinburgh skyline for an upcoming feature with Edinburgh Evening News.

The morning was overcast but as I started drawing in black ink the sun started to shine across the Dugald Stewart Monument with the Balmoral clock on one side and Edinburgh castle on the other.

I love the view from Calton Hill, the bustling Princes Street below looks so distant but is just minutes walk away, and the numerous spires and domes that dot the skyline remind me of places visited and others waiting to be explored.

I recommend the short climb if visiting Edinburgh even just for the day – the view captures the whole city.

The EEN had a go cam hooked up to film the sketch being created so once the feature is live I will let you know.

Dome sketching from an Edinburgh roof terrace garden

mcewan-hall-from-nms-roof2It is one of my favourite views in Edinburgh, with a 360 degree vista of the city skyline.

If you are visiting the National Museums of Edinburgh on Chambers Street be sure to take the lift and or steps to their roof top terrace for an unparalleled 360 degree view of Scotlands wonderful capital city.

I was visiting to take some photographs of Edinburgh Castle for a new artwork, but whilst there I captured this of the McEwan Hall dome popping up over the terrace wall.

The McEwan Hall is the graduating hall of the University of Edinburgh, and is where I graduated some years ago. The building was presented to the University in 1897 by William McEwan, brewer and politician.

Next time you are on Chambers Street take a look from the top and see if you can name all the steeples and domes of Edinburgh.

National Museums Scotland website

University of Edinburgh website

Pen and Ink on Queens Drive, Edinburgh

arthursseatroadRecently I was commissioned to draw this view from Arthurs Seat, as Edinburgh emerges from Queen’s Park as you drive/walk/cycle around the city’s extinct volcano.

I am often asked what is my favourite view of Edinburgh and this is always in my top five (the favourite changes constantly depending on where I have been sketching) as I love the way the city opens up as you climb and turn the corner.

A must see and a great cycle in the centre of town Queen’s Drive climbs and circles Arthurs Seat, passing Dunsappie Loch before being rewarded with this fantastic view.

Sketch drawn on location in black ink. Commissions start at £65, email me at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com for more information.

Arthurs Seat on Historic Enviroment Scotland website