Exhibition bids to put city's '˜forgotten' area on the map

An independent gallery owner has launched a new exhibition in a bid to put an often overlooked area firmly on the Edinburgh map.

Holly Mitchell, Totty Rocks. Picture : Inzajearno Latif

Ian Farmer hopes the Between Bruntsfield and Tollcross exhibition will help showcase the “in between” area and drum up custom for local businesses that he says make the area an up-and-coming place that can be too easy to overlook.

The founder of Upright Gallery, which sits between Bruntsfield and Tollcross, looking onto the Links says the exhibition will be a boost for the profile of the area, known as South Bruntsfield.

The exhibition at Upright Gallery was designed to reflect the hotbed of diverse businesses, shops, art galleries, artisan breadmakers, restaurants and cafes that are the beating heart of the community.

Mr Farmer said: “This is such a vibrant area. Sometimes it can seem like a passing through place and tourists flock to nearby places. I hope the exhibition will get people to rally round.”

The 60-year-old, formerly a top graphic designer at the city council, bought the gallery last year as his working studio. After being welcomed into the close-knit community as a newcomer he wanted to do more to help support local businesses.

“Many business owners round here are real stalwarts that hold the community together. It’s the people that make it. I wanted to help show that off.”

The exhibition by international photographer Inzajeano Latif features portraits of well-known local business owners from neighbouring blocks on Bruntsfield Place and Barclay Terrace.

Among them are Violin-maker Gordon Stevenson and pioneering fashion designer Holly Mitchell from Totty Rocks and Phil White, owner of award-winning restaurant Leftfield.

The exhibition opens to the public from September 14 to October 5, Monday to Saturday 11-5pm.