Street art, graffiti art, guerrilla art. Whatever you want to call it, it’s everywhere. But there’s one very special type of street art to look out for in Edinburgh. I’ve been treasure-hunting these mosaics over the past few years - all created by the same artist, Helen Miles.
Scottish-born mosaic artist Helen Miles began installing graffiti mosaics around Edinburgh after returning to Scotland from Greece in 2017. On settling in Edinburgh she was looking for ways to connect with the environment and community around her. Most of her works are in the east end of Edinburgh and not far from her current studio at Out Of The Blue Abbeymount Studios.
Helen studied English at Oxford University and worked as a journalist around the world before moving to Greece in 2001. There she trained in mosaic-making methods with Greek master craftspeople in Thessaloniki and Athens, focussing on Byzantine iconography. She also took inspiration from Roman mosaic traditions, iconography and aesthetics.
Working in Greek stone and marble, Helen makes classically-inspired commissioned mosaics for interior and exterior spaces, as well as teaching and writing about the subject.
Little did I know that the artist responsible for a mosaic that I had affectionately come to know as ‘fag lady’ was the same artist who did the abstract mosaics I would later stumble upon and marvel at during lockdown. Seeing ‘fag lady’ was the first time I saw mosaic street art in Edinburgh, having seen already in Aberdeen and been impressed by UK artist Carrie Reichardt. Helen Miles assisted her with the Everyday Heroes street mosaic mural in Aberdeen (for Nuart 2017) and was also inspired by another guerilla mosaic artist Jim Bachor in Chicago who fixes potholes with mosaic artworks.
‘Personification of Spring in the Age of Climate Breakdown’
Described as a chain-smoking woman representing a modern version of the Roman ideal of welcoming the season. Spring will typically have flowers in her hair as this one does. Installed early June 2019, this is the first Helen Miles mosaic that I spotted and it immediately sparked my curiosity. This was an expert mosaic-maker. ‘Fag lady’ had intrigued me.
And so it began, I went on a treasure hunt to find all the hidden places Helen had secretly installed the murals, giving little clues on her Instagram as each one was revealed.
Calton Hill mosaics
Helen’s first adventure in graffiti mosaics was at Calton Hill in January 2018. It was here she unveiled three mosaics in some of the most unpopulated and neglected corners of this Victorian park which sits upon volcanic rocks close to Holyrood Park.
First up was an eye, looking south out over Holyrood, probably installed around 14th January 2018. I found the original mesh base attached to the rock as the mosaic has been destroyed over time.
Then there was the ‘Why Me?’ mosaic, installed around 15th January 2018. It’s a speech bubble added to an existing piece of photo-graffiti of a crying girl. It has a serif Roman font. This had been spray-painted over with bright red graffiti which was then removed by the local council. However, they generously left the original artwork and Helen’s mosaic and tried to clean it all up as you see it now.
Next came a mouse – installed around 16th January 2018. This took a long time for me to discover as it’s on a path I’d never gone down before.
Not too far from there is ‘the key’ at the door to Regent Gardens, a private enclosed garden. See if you can find it:
‘2nd Century flower’ was added 18th April 2023 in the shadow of Calton Hill, locate Jacob’s Ladder to find this little beauty.
How did the artist manage to get them installed so quickly and without being seen?
Helen constructed the mosaics in advance onto pre-prepared mesh. She’d arrive on site in the early hours when walking her dog Farook. Fast-setting tile adhesive and grout was applied quickly to the mosaic whilst Farook kept a lookout. Sadly, Farook died last year.
Warriston Cemetery mosaics
Two mosaics can be found around Warriston Cemetery:
Crow with red heels
On the side of a stone bridge where crows gather on the edge of this overgrown and neglected Victorian cemetery. This sassy crow was installed 21st October 2018.
photos ©Artravelist on 6 Sept 2020
Here Lies
Installed 1st Nov 2019. Ceramic tiles spell out ‘Here Lies’
other Helen Miles mosaics in Edinburgh
If you fancy a bit of mosaic-hunting, here’s some more to seek out in Edinburgh. I still have a few more to find and capture on camera.
‘Her Jesty’
This one is on the wall of a bridge near Palace of Holyrood House.
‘flower’
This one is at Scotland Street tunnel.
Apparently this one is no longer visible, buried under graffiti. There is another abstract mosaic at the tunnel on the left just before you reach Tesco end of the tunnel. It may have been added around November 2022.
‘three fishes’
Along a stretch of Water of Leith walkway, west of the Gallery of Modern Art, are three fish swimming in a line.
look our for the abstract mosaics
The abstract mosaic series project began during Covid19 between lockdowns when the artist named them as Virus. I found my first one (Virus#2) back in March on the route of my daily walk to Holyrood Park and kept wondering who the artist was. Each virus is easy to spot but appears in locations which are tucked away and somewhat neglected. For this reason, as well as lack of visibility, I wouldn’t recommend you go mosaic hunting after dark.
Virus#1
This abstract is earthy brown and uses Scottish stone, pebble and shell. I stumbled upon this one by accident on the sloped path between Regent Road and Calton Road - installed around 20th March 2020.
Virus#2
This was installed over some 1980s graffiti using Smalti, slate, crockery, sandstone, shell, beach glass, burnt door handle surround and millefiore. Installed around 28th March 2020.
Virus #3
This mosaic, on the sea wall at Portobello beach, was installed around 22 March 2020. It’s made of shells, metal, glass, plastic, Greek marble, coins, false teeth and Scottish stone. I couldn’t get close enough for a detailed photo as the tide was in. The video shows how close I could get without getting soaked. One day the sea might reclaim it and the mosaic will disappear.
Virus #4
This one in Canonmills has subtle tones with a petal-like pattern in Greek marble, glazed ceramic tile and shell. Installed around 23 March 2020, it complements the graffiti already there.
Helen Miles made some further abstract mosaics in her studio during lockdown. So, let’s…
…treasure hunt the other virus mosaics
I found this one along the Water of Leith (Canonmills section). Once again, I just stumbled upon it by accident.
This abstract mosaic with a button at its core is at the Innocent Railway Tunnel - installed after 14th August 2020
I stumbled across this one by accident at King George V Park:
Some other other Helen Miles abstract mosaics I haven’t yet discovered:
A pills virus abstract at the former Royal Infirmary
I will add more if/when I can find them. Have you seen any? Let me know in the comments if you spot any of these or any others around Edinburgh. Also ask me in the comments or message me if you’d like to know exactly where to find a mosaic.
Portobello Beach
A memorial tribute to the life of Emma, a young local woman.
The latest street mosaic below, is a protest against the annihilation of the people of Gaza - no idea where this one is…yet
Helen Miles teaches mosaic art workshops in Edinburgh, including how to make your own abstract mosaics. Helen’s public art mosaics have stood the test of time and the Edinburgh weather. The fact that they’ve done so is testament to the skill and quality used to create these works of art.