Edinburgh Landmarks Drawings and paintings by participants of Artlink’s Open Art Studio at The Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Drawings and paintings by participants of Artlink’s Open Art Studio at The Royal Edinburgh Hospital
An Exhibition in the Link Gallery and the Royal Edinburgh Building June 2020 – March 2021
Edinburgh Landmarks An Exhibition in the Link Gallery and the Royal Edinburgh Building June 2020 – March 2021
Just before lockdown in 2020, patients and staff at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital produced a series of artworks of well-known views of Auld Reekie. Culminating in an exhibition of drawings and paintings entitled Edinburgh Landmarks, it features the work of artists attending the Wednesday Open Art Sessions at the Glasshouses Studio. These art sessions are led by artist Anne Elliot as part of Artlink’s Hospital Arts Programme. They demonstrate a wide range of approaches to representing architectural subjects and the urban landscape of Edinburgh, ranging from a detail of a ‘weel-kent’ clock in Morningside to the ‘ye cannae miss it’ Edinburgh Castle. Architecture was a new challenge for many of the artists, so we encouraged them to free themselves from the constraints of straight lines and perspective, and to just enjoy bringing a personal representation of places to life. The exhibition was due to be launched in the Verandah Tearoom on March 25th but lockdown put paid to that idea! As the old saying goes, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ and REH Arts & Greenspace Manager Becky Brazil thought the works were too good
Work in progress from the OT art sessions
to be left languishing all alone in the Glasshouses. With that encouragement and the help of Tonic Arts (part of Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation) we decided to print and display copies of the artworks.
John Knox’s House, The Royal Mile by JR
The exhibition
Work by Michelangelo
The original artworks, which these prints are taken from, are for sale. If you are interested please send your enquiry stating the artwork title and artist’s name to the Glasshouses email for more details. You can also make an offer to buy the printed version. Turn to the back of this book for how to get in touch. Continues overleaf
REH Arts & Greenspace Manager Becky Brazil and Tonic Arts Hospital Exhibitions Manager Hans K Clausen installing the work
Work in progress by Anne Elliot during the Occupational Therapy art sessions
Maggie Keppie works on her Scott Monument piece
The Glasshouses are currently closed for all workshops but we will let everyone know when they are open again. Meanwhile we are continuing to deliver a range of remote and some face-to-face projects across the hospitals we work at. We look forward to meeting up with old friends. So, until we can, keep safe, keep well and keep in touch. Anne Elliot Glasshouses, Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Scott Monument Nikhil Haskar Pen on paper The Scott Monument is an Edinburgh landmark that Nikhil knows well having been born and raised in Edinburgh. He selected the photograph during a Wednesday Art Studio class and came up with this unique interpretation! I think when he completed his work he felt satisfied.
Edinburgh Tenements RM Colour crayon on paper
Calton Hill Giuseppe Zappa Acrylic paint, pen and pencil on paper
Redhall House, the way it was Maggie Keppie Acrylic paint on paper “Because I am an ‘Edinburger’ these buildings have been iconic to me from childhood. I have personal and emotional memories attached to them. I remember visiting Redhall when it used to be a private estate.”
The Form and Colour of Human Lives Scott Monument Neil Gaffney Pen on paper “Someone else in the art group had drawn the Scott Monument earlier and I suppose I’d always thought that Walter might feel a bit down if he saw this stunning architectural memorial looking so dark and drab! In contrast, I had been reading a book on Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser in the Artlink library at the Glasshouses. Fabulous fantastical landscapes with plenty of rich colours. Vincent Van Gogh is a favourite of mine too.“
Scott Monument R Graphite pencil on paper
Mortonhall Crematorium Anne Elliot Watercolour on paper “I stumbled upon a black and white photograph of this building whilst browsing through a book on the architect Sir Basil Spence. I have since learned that he went to George Watson’s and Edinburgh College of Art. Other notable buildings designed by him include Coventry Cathedral and the Beehive in New Zealand. Mortonhall Crematorium was opened in 1967 and is a rare modernist building of quality in Auld Reekie.“
Towards Edinburgh Castle from Bruntsfield Anne Elliot Watercolour and pen on paper “I am ashamed to say much of my experience of seeing Edinburgh is from my car! Leaving Morningside heading into town, on one of several arteries into the City Centre, I stopped to take a photograph. The light caught my eye and I made this painting of the view of the road heading down into Tollcross with the Castle in darkness.“
Church (since demolished) Anne Elliot Watercolour on paper
A night view of Princes Street from Caltonhill Michelangelo Paint on paper
Sunshine on St. Giles’ Joan Templeton Watercolour on paper “I chose to paint St. Giles’ Cathedral because it is a very impressive building steeped in history.”
Tattoo June Perring Pen, watercolour, crayon The ‘Tattoo’ exhibit relates to Edinburgh’s most famous landmark, and as both her grandfathers died as a consequence of WWI and her father & uncle fought in WWII, military parades and commemorations are ingrained in June’s psyche - ‘lest we forget’.
View of Pentland Hills from Merchants of Edinburgh golf course Grace O’Hara Pen, watercolour, crayon “A drawing I made on location during a group field trip out to Merchants of Edinburgh golf course.”
Edinburgh Castle from West Meadows Michelangelo Paint on paper “I live near here and wanted to try to capture the view.”
Greyfriar’s Bobby June Perring Pen, watercolour, crayon June was born and brought up in her younger years in the Southside of Edinburgh. The landmark Greyfriar’s Bobby, which is central to the area, relates to the poignant story that every Southsider is familiar with. In addition, June has an affinity with terriers having had a Westie (Candi), some years after she first became ill. She loves dogs.
Edinburgh Castle from South Loch the Meadows Michaelangelo Pencil and paint on paper “I live near here and wanted to try to capture the castle from a different viewpoint.”
The Clock of My Dreams, Maggie Keppie, Sketch on paper
The Clock of My Dreams Maggie Keppie Watercolour on paper “There are two famous clocks in Edinburgh; one at Haymarket and this one outside the Lyceum. This clock used to be located on the other side of Lothian Road. I wanted to draw this one as I love to go to the theatre and passed it recently when I saw Susan Boyle at the Lyceum just before lockdown.”
Greyfriar’s Bobby Grace O’Hara Watercolour on paper “I chose this subject because I like drawing animals and it combined an animal and architecture!”
Georgian House Joan Templeton Acrylic paint on canvas “I chose the Georgian House because my son and I visited it when it was doors open day last year and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. I have a real passion for architecture; however I felt a bit apprehensive about doing the painting because it was a challenging subject which I have not tried before. Once I started I put my heart and soul into it and it helped take my mind of the stress of having building work going on in my own home at the time!”
A church on the outskirts of Edinburgh Maggie Keppie Acrylic paint on canvas
Elephant House Maggie Keppie Acrylic paint on canvas “I was reminded by an auntie that I used to go to Elephant House as a child for High Tea.”
Ramsay Gardens Michaelangelo Acrylic paint on canvas “I have always thought it a beautiful view looking from Princes Street over to Ramsay Gardens.”
White House Close Michaelangelo Acrylic paint on canvas
Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street Fiona Kennedy Acrylic paint on canvas “As someone who lives in Edinburgh at times I take our wonderful landmarks for granted. Making this painting made me take a fresh look at the castle, the sun is setting on the castle in the photograph I was working from. I layered the paint and applied it thicker than I would normally, filling every corner of the canvas.”
Sketches of Morningside Norrie Sloan Pen and graphite pencil on paper
Sketches of Morningside Norrie Sloan Pen and graphite pencil on paper
Scottish Parliament towards Calton Hill Fiona Kennedy Graphite on paper
Morningside Road Brian McDermott Pen ink on paper
Howe Street Brian McDermott Pen ink on paper
Chessels Court Karina Davies Graphite pencil on paper
“I normally draw flowers and plants using colour paper and pastels, so to draw buildings as a subject for the first time using a pencil and a rubber, I was completely out of my comfort zone. But I thought I would give it a tr along with the rest of the group.”
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Huntly House, Karina Davies, Graphite pencil on paper
Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket, Karina Davies, Graphite pencil on paper
Bakehouse Close, Canongate LD, Eden Ward Pencil on paper
St. Giles’ Cathedral Giuseppe Zappa Colour crayon on paper
Forth Rail Bridge GCG, Eden Ward Felt pen on paper
Greyfriar’s Bobby M, Eden Ward Biro and crayon on paper
Holyrood Chapel LD, Eden Ward Pencil on paper
A View from Calton Hill Gemma Valentine Watercolour on paper
Scott Monument Gemma Valentine Ink on paper
Contacts Anne Elliot glasshouses@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
Established in 1984, Artlink is an arts and disability
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and social change.
Artlink is a company registered in Scotland No. 87845 with charitable status, Scottish Charity No. SCO006845
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