Carousel of street murals, secret places, songs and Scots words
Welcome to the baggage carousel. Clamber on, pick up what you need and go...
I’ve been restructuring Artravelist a little to make a monthly newsletter instead of weekly. This leaves more time for deeper weekly dives into what will be of interest to the creative and curious traveller in Edinburgh and Scotland. Let me do the research so that you don’t have to.
Doors Open Day 2025
My highlight of September is taking in the Doors Open Day events around Scotland. This is a great opportunity to see structures, architecture and artworks that are not typically available for public view. It also highlights some hidden gems that even the locals are unaware of. This year’s theme is Architectural Heritage: Windows to the Past, Doors to the Future.
September 6th/7th:
Aberdeen City, Badenoch and Strathspey, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, East Fife, Inverclyde, Outer Hebrides, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland, South Lanarkshire.
September 13th/14th:
Angus, Ayrshire, Central Fife, Midlothian, Moray, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, Skye and Lochaber.
September 20th/21st:
Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Caithness and Sutherland, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Inverness, Black Isle, Ross and Cromarty, West Fife, West Lothian.
September 27th/28th:
Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Stirling.
Have a look at the programme here
New mural for Colinton, Edinburgh
The latest mural by Colinton-born Chris Rutterford has been unveiled. The artist known for the much-loved murals at Colinton tunnel (completed in 2022) has now transformed Cuddies Lane into a heritage mural. Cuddie is a Scots word for a pack-horse or donkey.
The foot of the mural pays tribute to Phoebe Anna Traquair who designed the nearby railings decoration in the early 1920s. Find out more about the mural here or check out the artist’s Instagram video post below.
📍 Cuddies Lane, Colinton, Edinburgh, EH13 0LQ, Lothian Bus 10,16,18,45
Walcome tae Scots Wikipedia
Jist in case you didna ken, there’s a Scots wikipedia and if ye did ken, ye’ll be thrangsome wi’ it. It wis shapit on 23rd Juin 2005 an’ his 34,322 airticles the nou.
Scots is an officially recognised language, divergent from English since at least the fourteenth century. You can explore the Dictionaries of the Scots Language here - I can recommend exploring the Word of the Week.
You can also follow poet Len Pennie for her Scots word of the day.
And if you want to take your learning to another level, yes, there is also a Scots Gaelic wikipedia known as Uicipeid
You’re welcome.
Wild Mountain Thyme, the unknown verse
Listen to the gorgeous voice of Kirsteen Harvey, singing the verse that no-one seems to know…
Witch of the West tattoo studio, Glasgow
📍 7-9 Derby Street, Finnieston, Glasgow, G3 7TJ
Follow the yellow brick road to get your tattoo on in Glasgow. Tattoo artist Anj Woods dedicated the interior design of her tattoo studio in tribute to her late mother. Anj trained as a stained-glass artist and has been tattooing in Glasgow for 25 years, opening her own studio in 2023. The studio is accessible to wheelchairs. Art is by Glasgow-based spray-paint artist Rogueoner. Take a wee tour at the Instagram video below:
Colony of Artists celebrates 20 years
20-21st September
📍Abbeyhill Colonies, between London Road and Rossie Place, Edinburgh
Abbeyhill Colony of Artists Festival has grown arms and legs since its first launch in 2005. A group of local artists at the Abbeyhill colonies flats in Edinburgh flung open the doors to turn their homes into galleries for a weekend. The Colony of Artists are also responsible for the colourful shop shutter designs around the neighbourhood businesses and the local mural trail. This year there will also be art and history walking tours and talks, a photo exhibition, art demos, and a festival hub with local music, food and drink. See the work of over fifty artists and join in the festivities that spill out onto the streets.
Captivating new documentary on a forgotten local history
Scottish poet Gerda Stevenson’s fascinating documentary on the community history of Penicuik paper mills. This is a poetic, locally-made documentary on the history of the paper mills community on the banks of the North Esk River. The paper mills have long gone but the memories have been preserved and meditated upon in this new artwork.
That’s all for now. Haste ye back.