Memories of Edinburgh
1500 prints, 20" x 29", 2001.
This was my first Scottish adventure, and I headed for Edinburgh as I have received many requests for a capriccio of this famous city over the years. In January 2001 I booked into a city centre hotel and spent several frantic days walking the dramatic streets of the capital dodging the poor weather I had chosen! I managed to capture the images I needed on film, augmented by a mini library of books and pamphlets, and headed back to my studio in Wales to start the first painting in my new home.
The composition was already in my head as the city townscape had such strong elements; the Old Town, the Royal Mile and the Castle, the New Town, Arthurs Seat, Calton Hill, as well as long views over the Firth of Forth. There were gems around every corner like Victoria Street with its multi coloured shops descending along a curved sett street, the stone of Holyroodhouse Palace changing colour with the light, the closes dropping away from High Street, not to mention the set pieces such as the Castle, the Galleries, Scott Monument, Register House and the classical splendour of New Town buildings.
Yes this was an ideal candidate for one of my capriccios, but it still took me seven months to complete.