Images

WhereArtI Quiz – 19th December

Image 19th December 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher 19 Comments

A well known view from this monument.

Where have I sketched this week?

Leave your answer as a comment below, your entry 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 post cards, 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.

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.

Competition

WhereArtI Quiz – 12th December

Image 12th December 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher 15 Comments

A brightly coloured building full of history in the city.

Where have I sketched this week?

This week’s prize is a set of six Edinburgh post cards, 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.

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.

Competition

WhereArtI Quiz – 5th December

Image 5th December 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher 45 Comments

An unlikely but permanent sight in the city

Where have I sketched this week?

This week’s prize for the final week this year, is a set of six Edinburgh Christmas cards, each featuring a sketched scene from the city.

My Christmas cards can be bought online HERE

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.

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.

Daily Sketch

St Andrews Day Sketch

Image 2nd December 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher Leave a comment

A saltire in the sky for this year’s St Andrews Day sketch.

I was recently at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to sketch Scottish symbols and run a couple of workshops. While there I learnt plenty of interesting facets I wasn’t aware of.

Like the legend that states in the ninth century a Pictish king, Angus mac Fergus, adopted St Andrew as the patron saint after seeing a Saltire appear in the sky, immediately before his victory in battle at Athelstaneford.

An army of Picts and Scots under King Angus invaded the Lothians, which was still Northumbrian territory at the time. It found itself surrounded by Saxons led by Athelstan.

Fearing defeat, King Angus led prayers and then saw a cloud formation of a white Saltire in the blue sky. The king vowed that if, with Andrew’s help he won, he would make him the patron saint of Scotland.

The Scots won and the Saltire became the flag of Scotland. So although there were no aeroplane trails in the skies back in the ninth century, I imagine the skies looked a little like my sketch!

Thanks to VisitScotland for the details above, you can read more on there website HERE.

Also I have been asked to make this sketch available as a print so here it is, as a great quality signed and mounted print available with free UK postage on my Etsy shop HERE.

Daily Sketch

Abbey Strand gardens

Image 30th November 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher Leave a comment

I was inspired by the calm and relaxing gardens on a wintry afternoon.

Last week I ran a couple of workshops within the Palace of Holyroodhouse and I was so inspired by the light in the gardens that I made this sketch.

I hadn’t been in the gardens since they were reopened along with the Abbey Strand Buildings, which now are home to the Learning Centre, providing spaces for school groups, families and adults to learn about and engage with the Palace and the Royal Collection.

The sun was just hitting the tops of the buildings as I stood in the gardens painting, I think it was the highest the sun rose that day.

My drawing was created in ink and watercolour, below you can see a photo from the gardens.

Find out more about the Abbey Strand buildings on the Royal Collection Trust website HERE

Competition

WhereArtI Quiz – 28th November

Image 28th November 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher 22 Comments

Tunnel view but where in the city am I?

Where have I sketched this week?

This week’s prize, and throughout November, is a set of six Edinburgh Christmas cards, 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.

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.

Daily Sketch

Power to the teachers

Image 25th November 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher 2 Comments

Today the teachers were on strike, for the first time since the 80s.

Today I was running a very enjoyable sketching workshop in the Palace of Holyrood House and over the road I could see and hear the strike protest outside the Scottish Parliament.

I had a walk over to make my sketch and there was a lovely vibe as teachers from various schools held flags and home made banners asking for a pay rise and more up to date facilities.

My two kids are off today too, and I hope the teachers get what they want. They do an amazing job and in my opinion they, and the kids they teach and look after deserve all the help and support we can give them.

Find out more about the strike below, on the Educational Institute of Scotland website.

https://www.eis.org.uk/latest-news/firststrike

Daily Sketch

Castle lights bring the festive spirit

Image 22nd November 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher Leave a comment

This week I was invited to witness the start of the Castle of Light festival at Edinburgh Castle.

Bursting with colourful illuminations and stories from Edinburgh’s rich history the castle is once again open for a festive walk around the battlements, with fantastic views across the sparkling city.

New for this year the animations follow this year’s Kingdom of Colours theme, showcasing the castle’s stories as ‘defender of the nation’, the historic moments dating back 800 years.

The view above is from the Castle esplanade, thumping music and a spiralling mosaic of illustration and colour hits you straight awayt and leads you in through the castle gates.

Above shows the Earl Haig statue outside the War Museum, on which was projected a beautiful dancing figure made of snow. Calming classical music matches the rythum of the dance as people stand entranced in the view.

I loved the laughter and family festive vibe that followed me around the roughly 60 minute walk from area to area. Children stood in awe looking up at the engaging light show and story telling. Even if you have been in the past I would recommend revisiting, I left feeling I’d been to see a great show, well done Edinburgh Castle.

Adults are £20, Children £12 and if you are a Historic Scotland member there is a 10% discount here:

https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/whats-on/castle-of-light

Competition

WhereArtI Quiz – 21st November

Image 21st November 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher 3 Comments

Beautiful details hidden just off the main walk way

Where have I sketched this week?

This week’s prize, and throughout November, is a set of six Edinburgh Christmas cards, 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.

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.

Daily Sketch

Light at the end of the Walk

Image 16th November 2022 Edinburgh Sketcher Leave a comment

Today the sun is shining on a more open Leith Walk.

Great to see a more open look to Leith Walk. The street has been covered in ever changing roadworks and caged fencing that I forget how it looked before.

But hopefully not long now until the trams are rolling and the streets are construction, and diversion free.

Sketch made in my Works pad, using ink fadeproof pen and a waterbrush with Newton and Windsor watercolours.

Where have I sketched this week?

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Where have I sketched this week?

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Where have I sketched this week?

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A saltire in the sky for this year’s St Andrews Day sketch.

I was inspired by the calm and relaxing gardens on a wintry afternoon.

Where have I sketched this week?

Sign up to my monthly newsletter.

Where have I sketched this week?

Sign up to my monthly newsletter.

Today the sun is shining on a more open Leith Walk.

Sketches, news and family life in Scotland's capital city.