Scratchboarding

I've been going round the houses and back again recently trying all sorts of mediums and experiments with materials to create an effect which mimics a printmaking technique. But in the end, there's nothing better than to open the packaging of a fresh pristine scratchboard with the confidence that the surface is not going to let you down.

With scratchboard you need to work from a photo, I've tried many times in the past to go freestyle and it never goes well. The technique is popular in America where artists can take months to complete a picture using a tattoo needle. A sharp clear image in imperative and keeping things neat and pristine allows the final piece to look it's best.

Keeping things clean is not my natural way of working and I usually like to work quick and expressively, you'll see this with my life drawing sketches. But saying that, having a set drawing outline to work with is very relaxing for me as it means I'm basically colouring in, in a very slow methodical way.

So, I've revisited it, and the subject of falling down drystone walls is where I'm still at. This particular one had white as snow lichen on it which made it a natural subject matter for me. My go to is still monochrome with high contrast.

I've now finished it and lacquered it, the question is whether I can swallow the cost of framing it!

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Sunday sketchbook tour at John O’Groats

I took a small group of artists out for a sketchbook class one Sunday and we settled at John O’Groats harbour. Thankfully it was unseasonably warm which made the whole experience very pleasant for outdoor drawing in March (from this photo you will see we dressed for the expected temperature but we were able to sit comfortably for 2 hours) This is the north of Scotland after all, who doesn’t come dressed with woolly hats and fingerless gloves at this time of year! A collaboration between John O’groats Mill Trust and Lyth Art Centre funded the project. The aim, to offer an architectural tour around the newly refurbished mill and surrounding area. The project was slightly behind schedule and therefore still technically a building site so we opted to not walk over to the mill as we’d have had to view it behind a tall fence at the path. It didn’t spoil our day though as we enjoyed tackling the colourful buildings of John O’groats with boats in the foreground. The island vie...

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"The sea does not reward those who are to anxious, to greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach- waiting for a gift from the sea." A Gift FromThe Sea. This quote resonated with me as it wasn't until I read it that I realised that I never dig for that special something on the beach. Like I've said before, there is absolutely nothing of interest on my local beach at the foot of my garden, but once in a while something catches my eyes and the excitement of picking up a piece of glass or pottery never wanes. Usually it turns out to be either broken shell or a piece of plastic. This ring is for a new group exhibition in Thurso gallery on 23rd september 2016 then Wick afterwards. I am drawing on personal experience and this particular piece places the sea washed marble as something very s...

Pricing jewellery

Much has been written and spoken about recently on the rising cost of silver in the media; the political landscape coupled with the new industrial demands for the material has created a perfect storm. The leap in cost crept up slowly until the middle of 2025 and then pounced on jewellers right before Christmas. Especially those, like me who have varying requirements of silver purchases which makes it more difficult to notice the rise as each purchase is slightly different in weight. On top of that, I personally haven’t reassessed my prices since I initially calculated the costs for me to sell wholesale, when I attended Scotland’s Trade Fair at the SECC in 2024. To work out the costs, I had carefully timed myself making various items in the workshop, then made the assumption that I could probably make more than one item in an hour, and priced accordingly. The mistake I made at that point was not taking in to consideration the extra time it may take to cut an...

Lindsey Gallacher

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