Monday, May 31, 2010

Letter Drawing & Design Course Newburgh North Fife

Letter Drawing & Design Course Newburgh North Fife, for the last 3 days John Neilson has led a course at Steeple Arts, Newburgh, North Fife for practising lettercarvers. Organised by The Memorial Arts Charity.John Neilson, born in 1959, has worked as a lettercarver in stone since training with Tom Perkins in 1991/2. Prior to that, after an initial career in teaching, he studied calligraphy at Roehampton, London. John's current work includes lettering design and carving for architectural projects, public art, memorials, plaques, sundials, signs, and more sculptural pieces. He also undertakes some book design/typography, and teaches letter carving and design workshops. John has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad, but works mostly to commission. Recent commissions include a number of public art and large-scale works including the free-standing lettering above the entrance to the Queen's Gallery, Edinburgh. He has completed some 50 memorials for Memorials by Artists. He is an elected member of Letter Exchange and editor of their journal Forum. He is on the Crafts Council's Index of Selected Makers, and is an adviser to the Crafts Study Centre in Farnham. Practice makes perfect. John demonstrates. John Nielson. John Nielson in action explaining the finer points letter proportions. Perfection. I agree with the sentiment. A framed hand drawn and painted calligraphy given to me years ago, artist unknown.

Kinloss House North Fife

Kinloss House, Cupar, North Fife. It's here in the Estate grounds that the Fife Show takes place, easy access and free parking.

Beef Cattle Fife Show

Beef Cattle Fife Show.

Aberdeen Angus Champion of Champion beef cattle.

Reserve champion of champions.

Limosin bull owned by Mr D McKerrow of Nochnarry, Freuchie. Mr McKerrow was the first person I engaged with at the Fife show, easy to approach as he wore a smile from ear to ear.

Champion.

Champion.

Champion.

Champion.

Belted Galloway.

Champion Hereford.

aberdeen Angus.

Champion judge.

All bull.

Trophies plus the cash vouchers, pride and self esteem, that's what it's all about.

Aberdeen Angus at Flisk 2010

Aberdeen Angus at Fliskmillan.


Aberdeen Angus suckler herd belonging to Balhelvie Farm, sellers of prime beef and lamb from the farm shop. Here grazing at Fliskmillan.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Newburgh Scarecrow Festival Celebrating Fife 2010

Newburgh Scarecrow Festival Celebrating Fife 2010.
This the second year running that Newburgh has exercised it's creativity in making scarecrows. This years theme is "It's a small world". The interpretation has been quite varied sometimes literal, sometimes ? Folk art at its finest, well worth a visit. Supported by Fife Council as part of Celebrating Fife. Further examples can be seen in previous posts over the last week.

World contemplation.


Welcome.

Watch out.

Thai boxing.

Bench Party.

Sleeping policeman.

Sleeping cat.


Of one kind.

More fishing.

Me in my Dutch cap.

Japan.

It was this big.

Ingrid.

I'm a coming.

I love perch.

Heh Amigo.

Gypsy rose lee.

It's a Goal.

Ebony and Ivory.

Chile.

Mark Beaumont's challenge.

Friday, May 28, 2010

May Blossom North Fife

May Blossom, the season is late this year and hawthorn is only now coming into flower, dusting patches of white across the landscape.

Newburgh Scarecrows May 28th

Daily more scarecrows appear, these are those I came across, more tomorrow.

You name it.

Yes.

Watch out the wolf's about.

The world.

Thoughts of all that volcanic ash.

Dreaming of South Africa.

Loitering outside Sharon's.

A self portrait maybe.

Mario.

It is a small world.

Ingrid in need of a pyramid.

In the dog house.

The Clinton Street Gang.

Hello sailor.

Hair Fairy.

Elvis in the High Street.