For Lowry, the industrial landscape inspired his matchstick men. For Hockney it was the swimming pools of California and for Banksy, gritty urban backdrops. For Scottish artist Ann Oram a diverse series of places have been the spur for her work. For the time being, the place is Fife – not the East Neuk which is the usual choice for artists – but the picturesque Logie Estate in Crossford near
Such a simple and brilliant idea – a stylish picture of your favourite football ground that fits in with the decor of your home. Football fan and artist Jamie Edwards explains how he came to create this series of pictures: ‘As a football fan and landscape artist I was always disappointed by the lack of original ‘football art’. Imagery surrounding the game is increasingly produced under the guise of ‘merchandise’,
Award winning novelist Alan Bissett is a passionate ‘yes’ when it comes to independence for Scotland. In this exclusive interview for Avocado Sweet, he discusses the impact independence may have on the country’s culture. You can see Bissett perform his one man show – Ban this Filth – at the Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1 to 11 August. Does Scotland have a distinct culture
Skateboarder Robbie Hamilton has drawn on his fleeting and ephemeral view of the built landscape to create this fantastic series of paintings for a new exhibition – Passing Places – at the Old Ambulance Depot Edinburgh 25-28 July. The Duncan of Jordanstone student says, ‘I wanted to capture the skater’s obsessive response to the constantly changing urban environment as well as featuring ‘unlooked at’ architecture and the restrictions on fast movement
There can’t be many Scottish festivals that have beach volleyball in their programme. Aberdour in Fife does, along with a regatta, Jo Caulfield and a great festival bake off hosted by Susan Rae, Radio 4 and judged by last year’s Great British Bake Off winner, John Whaite and Aberdour’s own baker, Mrs Lonie. The festival also has its own version of the BAFTAs, Brilliant Aberdour Film Talent Awards. Short film submissions
These recordings of American poet Sylvia Plath were made in late 1962, just a few months before she died. In them she reads from Ariel, the collection she left on the kitchen table to be found with her body. It is fascinating to hear her deliver, with her clipped New England vowels, the exact internal rhymes and rhythms she must have intended for each poem. She sounds mature – not
Polish-born Maciej Dakowicz’s photographs of Cardiff attracted controversy for the drunkenness they show. But they also capture the carmaradarie, the silliness and the sheer joy of a crazy night out. The photos, which were taken from 2006 to 2011, were published by Thames and Hudson in Cardiff after Dark in October 2012. ‘Everything takes place in public – from drinking, fighting, kissing to crying and sleeping. Supermen chat up Playboy Bunnies, somebody lies
Things have moved fast at The Walled Garden, Kincardine in Fife. Within months of Avocado Sweet first featuring the garden, owners Keith Laing and Anne Crawford have built a 70 seater cafe and decamped from the tiny potting shed cafe opposite. The first event to be held since the new cafe opened in mid-July is a summer fete on Sunday 21 July. To raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Research there
This article first appeared over 10 years ago on a website called Tartan Umbrella. Veteran Scots actor John Cairney, who was living in New Zealand at the time, is won over by the passion and thoughtfulness of a live performance by The Proclaimers in Auckland and recognises a new brand of Scottishness being taken around the world. He refers to the Reid twins as young – scary to think they
Take a look at Leo Caillard‘s shots of statues done up like hipsters. The addition of t shirts, shades and trainers is strangely humanising and makes for an intriguing project which has gained the French photographer a great deal of attention. Another interesting new look at classical statuary comes from German archaeologist Vinzenz Brinkmann. He has used high intensity lamps, ultraviolet light and powdered minerals to research and recreate the