Tag Archives: summer

Sunshine on Scone

Scone Place provided the perfect host for last weekends Scottish Garden Fair.

My family and I visited the Garden Fair at Scone Palace last weekend and it was a glorious day. Summer vibes, great food and lots of beautiful plants to look at and take home.

We are keen gardeners and we all enjoy a walk through nature, tall trees and fields of wield flowers are great for the soul and a chance to catch up and talk over our daily concerns and plans.

And so the Scottish Garden Fair seemed like the perfect day out, and it was, the stalls and food trucks were very welcome but the star of the show was Scone Palace itself and the wonderful walks through their gardens. Wonderful tall pines and many colours of rhododendrons lead us to the great maze which proved quite a tough task!

We will be back with a picnic soon. Find out more about this beautiful palace at the link below.

Scone Palace website

Sun, flowers and shadows

As the sun shone and the temperatures soared in Edinburgh I found my happy place drawing in my garden.

The morning was so hot yesterday and as you never know how long the summer will last in Edinburgh it is important to enjoy it while you can.

Last week I took a day off to head to the beach and today I took the morning to ‘work’ in the garden.

Although I am sketching and honing my skills, and my sketch may become a print and so make some money, it is really a stretch to say I was working as I relaxed into my cross hatching happy place.

I recomend picking up a pen and having ago picking out the light and dark places infront of you. This composition really jumped out at me as the contrast was so great and the shadows so strong.

The flowers are a mystery, but I am thinking a Touch-Me-Not or a lobelia? I am not sure but here is a photo too, so do tell me if you know.

The Borders Book Festival is launched from the top of The Glasshouse

BoordersBookFestival LaunchEarlier this week the Borders Book Festival was officially launched overlooked by Calton Hill in the stunning roof top venue of The Glasshouse Hotel on Greenside Lane, Edinburgh.

I hope to be involved this year sketching from the four day festival which takes place each year within the walled gardens of Harmony House in the centre of Melrose.

The beautiful town of Melrose, just 35 miles from Edinburgh can now be reached via the Borders Railway, which reopened less than two years ago and rolls through some beautiful scenery. HERE is my sketch blog from the opening journey in 2015, I am looking forward to returning to the train for the trip to the festival, which runs from the 15th to 18th June.

BordersRailway_TrainTweedbank

With over 100 events at this years Borders Book Festival there is something for everyone, including a number of big name celebrities (John Cleese, Judy Murray and Steve Backshall to name just three) and an extensive Family Book Festival which I will be taking the Sketcher Twins to. I like the fact all there is no entry charge for adults accompanying children to Family Book Festival events.

So have a look at the full programme using the link below and book yourself a few events, and be sure to take the train for a lovely relaxing way to arrive.

Borders Book Festival website

The Glasshouse Hotel website

Borders Railway website

Heatwave in Granton today

GardenTwinsEnjoying a long lunch in the garden today with my beautiful Sketcher twins!

All this week I am working at a printers in Leith, covering for someones holiday. On a day like today I am thankful it’s only a 9-1pm shift so I still get to enjoy my lunch with the Sketcher Twins.

This afternoon we had it in our garden, too hot to move much I watched and sketched as they made mud pies and ‘saved’ creepy crawlies from the garden!

Special days with loved ones, captured in a sketch.

This sketch is drawn in pen and watercolour, brushed on with my new (and brilliant) Pentel Aquash Water Brush Pen, more of which to come in future posts. 

GardenTwins crop

Sunshine on Stockbridge

StockbridgeBridgeI’ve been enjoying the recent sunshine in Edinburgh, and recently took a walk along the Water of Leith into Stockbridge.

The Water of Leith river is said to be around 22 miles long and runs from the Pentland Hills through Edinburgh to Leith and out into the Forth of Firth.

There are many beautiful sights to be seen along its winding route (look out for heron, king fishers and otters), and one such place is Stockbridge where the green vegetation contrasts well with the sandstone architecture above.

I drew the above sketch in between St Bernard’s Well and St Bernard’s Bridge, which features in the drawing. This original ink and watercolour sketch measures approx 280x200mm and is yours mounted for £145. Email me at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com if you would like to purchase the piece.

 

Water of Leith Information Centre website

Stockbridge Edinburgh locals website

 

My sketch was drawn on location in black in with a watercolour wash. 

stockbridgelocationnature, sunshnin