Scottish songwriter and musician Aidan Moffat has written a song about his favourite place: the wall in Falkirk where he used to meet up and hang about with his friends as a youngster. The Scottish Book Trust has asked celebrities and ordinary people to submit some writing about their favourite place in Scotland. Many are romantic texts about the beauty of the landscape but many will recognise these less misty-eyed
‘Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride, friendship without envy, or beauty without vanity? Here where grace is laced with muscle and strength by gentleness confined.’ These lines from Ronald Duncan’s famous poem could have been written to accompany the work of Dutch photographer Charlotte Dumas who has raised to a high art the photographing of animals. She has a particular fascination for working horses and
Legendary Auchtermuchty accordionist Jimmy Shand, late great darts player Jocky Wilson and much missed guitar hero Stuart Adamson all hail from Fife and are the stars of award winning illustrator Jonny’s Hannah‘s vibrant and witty homecoming exhibition at the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline. The piece above honours Moira Shearer the beautiful red head who grew up in Dunfermline and went on to become one of the world’s most famous
If, as comedian George Carlin said, your house is ‘a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get…more stuff!’ then The Smallest Apartment in America is not for you. Luke Clark Tyler shows how he designed the interior of his 78 square foot New York apartment and provides decorating ideas for small spaces, including furniture, storage, kitchen and bath solutions. Luke downsized from a 96 square foot apartment
Looking as though they are floating above the ground, these brollies are held in place by wires between buildings in Agueda, Portugal. The installation is an initiative by the council in the small town just south of Porto and is part of an art festival called Agitagueda. Photos: Patricia Almeida, Diana Tavares Photos: Patricia Almeida, Diana Tavares
For a bit of good old sub prime schadenfreude, check out The Queen of Versailles which follows time share billionaires David and Jackie Siegel as they set out to build the biggest house in America. It may seem like the latest from Christopher Guest but it is actually the work of Lauren Greenfield and was the opening documentary of this year’s Sundance Festival. The film, which will be shown in
Chilled fizzy red wine made by a Scottish female wine producer? Pamela Geddes, who grew up in Bridge of Allan, is breaking a few of the unwritten rules of the wine industry. Now running her own winery near Barcelona she has been featured on Scottish Television, Catalan television, BBC Radio Scotland and in the Daily Express. Here, friend and wine drinker Lesley Ratomska tells us how Pamela started Lobban wines.
Award winning artist and printmaker Stephen Ratomski, whose work is shown here, is among the artists exhibiting at the first Central Fife Open Studios, 11 until 26 August. Stephen is Chairman of Fife Dunfermline Printmakers Workshop and founder of Fife Polish Arts Group. He says, ‘I find it inspiring to go into my Dunfermline workspace which has very good light and wonderful views of the landscape. My view of Saline Hill
Alber Elbaz, the celebrated Casablanca-born creative director at Lanvin says, ‘I love wrinkles. I love grey hair’. His new fall/winter campaign features non models of varied body shapes and personalities who range in age from 18 to 82. All were cast after being spotted on the streets of New York city and were photographed by Steven Meisel. The campaign is undoubtedly very smart and it’s great to see a more
Fringe by the Sea opens today Monday 6 August and runs until 12 August in the traditional seaside town of North Berwick. Events include performances by singers Kate Rusby, pictured below and Scottish folk singer, Emily Smith. Iain Banks, novelist and author of The Wasp Factory and Neil Innis of Monty Python fame are also part of the programme. And don’t forget the Neapolitan songs performed by the Be Happy