BLOG


Urban and street photography news and essays

Young Dumfries musicians perform in Dock Park

Young Dumfries musicians perform in Dock Park

It was  a pleasure to see the historic eight-sided bandstand in Dock Park, disused only a couple of years ago, becoming once again a focal point for Doonhamers’ weekend entertainment. Young Dumfries musicians, songwriters and singers performed their own material along with some popular covers live on the overhauled stage…

Leah Halliday – Fairy of So Sew Pretty

Leah Halliday – Fairy of So Sew Pretty

I discovered Leah Halliday and her So Sew pretty sewing workshop project when she kindly opened her inviting studio premises in Solway House to a DG Unlimited (Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Arts) meeting. Leah, a well-respected designer and craft person, whose work appeared on BBC and in various magazines, channelled  her life-long passion for vintage design…

As Above So Below at Nithraid 2015

As Above So Below at Nithraid 2015

As Above So Below is a piece of an outdoor interactive performance art commissioned to the Young Stovies for Nithraid 2015. The show created by the Mad Jackals, a group of young Dumfries artists, is loosely based on the ideas of Enlightment. It explores the esoteric correspondences of the ‘as above…

Edinburgh street life and National Hot Dog Day

Edinburgh street life and National Hot Dog Day

I have always assumed that National Hot Dog Day on 23 July is a US holiday, so a stream of articles implying that it is celebrated in the UK too that appeared in my news feed today took me by surprise. In sympathy with this great event so woefully ignored in…

Solway House artists at Spring Fling 2015

Solway House artists at Spring Fling 2015

With John writing up a large (and seemingly non-ending) academic paper, our social life has suffered a lot this May. So I was understandably excited about our weekend visit to Crichton and a chat with Solway House artists during Dumfries and Galloway’s Spring Fling 2015 open studios event. What a wonderful experience…

Waterloo Sunset giant puppet theatre

Waterloo Sunset giant puppet theatre

Waterloo Sunset was a giant puppet theatre piece for kids created by Jack Finlay and the team of the Electric Theatre Workshop as part of Dumfries bicentenary celebrations of the battle of Waterloo victory over Napoleon. Before I saw the play I wondered how the puppet theatre would be used to present a tale…

Nithsdale Regatta 2015

Nithsdale Regatta 2015

Nithsdale Amateur Rowing Club regatta was a momentous event this year, as in 2015 the club celebrated 150 years since the foundation of the club (NARC). The traditional 750m sprint race on the river Nith in Dumfries took place on 11 April, coinciding with Oxford v Cambridge 2015 races date. On the morning…

#existinphotos – photographer in front of the camera

#existinphotos – photographer in front of the camera

I needed an updated photo of myself for my website and my mother was nagging me to email her some new images as well. Photographers are often the ones that end up behind the camera, not in front of it, but, as I am not into selfies and follow Sue Bryce’s message to #existinphotos…

Tall ship La Malouine docks at Kingholm Quay Dumfries

Tall ship La Malouine docks at Kingholm Quay Dumfries

On 18 April 2015, for the first time after a hundred year long gap, Dumfries welcomed the arrival of a tall ship of the size of La Malouine that entered the river Nith and docked at Kingholm Quay harbour. The sailing vessel was on a six-day passage from Granville in…

The second winter in Dumfries ends

The second winter in Dumfries ends

And so our second Scottish winter in Dumfries ends today. A couple of snow showers after weeks of regional snow alerts (haha!), a couple of frosty days, some spectacular sunsets and a by now predictable flooding of the river Nith – amidst weeks and weeks of mild and rainy weather….

Urban Portraits Dumfries session for Lucy and Matthew

Urban Portraits Dumfries session for Lucy and Matthew

This previously unblogged session of a couple in love from my Urban Portraits Dumfries project is just right to be posted on Valentine’s Day. When Lucy and Matthew first contacted me they wrote about their affection for Nithsdale, their long walks along the stream and their appreciation of living near the river Nith running…

Big Burns Supper carnival in Dumfries

Big Burns Supper carnival in Dumfries

My Dumfries Diaries wouldn’t be complete without a photo account of Big Burns Supper carnival, the Europe’s largest winter festival that takes place in Dumfries in January to celebrate Robert Burns’ life, his spirit and Scottish culture. Last year I had a bad cold, and John and I couldn’t make…