Edinburgh Sketcher celebrates 10 years of recording Scotland's Capital from lock down

HE is one of the Capital’s most in demand artists, his work regularly appearing in the Evening News as he records the ever-changing face and many of the major events that take place in the Capital.

Lock down Edinburgh by Edinburgh Sketcher Mark Kirkham

Right now, though, like most of us, Mark Kirkham is working from home, which, when you happen to be better known as Edinburgh Sketcher, limits your reach when recording city life.

The 45-year-old, whose Where Art I? competition has long been a popular addition to Evening News pages, established his brand in 2010 and for the past decade he has been capturing every aspect of the city’s calendar, from the minutiae to the epic, in his distinctive and finely detailed and coloured line drawings.

A father of two, he reveals, “I am lucky enough to have work which can be done at home, although with my wife Joanne and twins James and Zoe home now too, the space is busier than usual. The first two weeks of lock down we had school days so I added in a few art lessons - we made stained glass inspired art and I filmed a wee tutorial video to share online.”

NHS rainbows by Edinburgh Sketcher Mark Kirkham

In doing so, Mark continued a time honoured family tradition - it was as a child that he himself discovered his love of art.

“I’ve always enjoyed drawing and spent many days when younger wandering around galleries, soaking up the skills of the masters. I come from an artistic family, so always had paints, paper and all the creative ingredients when growing up. It’s something we are keen to let our children do now too.”

Having studied at Telford College where he had “a go at many art techniques” Mark found himself pointed in the direction of computer design.

He went on to work a designer and graphic artist for a number of high profile agencies before entering the world of newspapers with The Scotsman and Evening News. Indeed, it was while working in the print media that the Edinburgh Sketcher was born.

Working from home, by by Edinburgh Sketcher Mark Kirkham

“I started sketching more regularly while working in the newspaper business, which could be very stressful,” he recalls. “I would ‘escape’ for 30 to 40 minutes on my lunch break, walking and sketching on the Royal Mile. Now I find sketching to be relaxing for me, I can totally zone out from whatever else is going on in my life just for anything from 30 minutes to an hour."

He adds, “When sketching I am totally consumed by the act of drawing.”

Since first coming to public attention 10 years ago, Mark’s artistic skills have become in great demand with commissions from hotels and businesses across the city as well as many private ones too.

“It’s hard to pick out favourites but I once travelled to London with Visit Scotland to help showcase Edinburgh using my artwork,” he smiles proudly. A recent highlight was creating a map of Edinburgh which one George Street hotel commissioned to line their bedside drawers.

Flower cards by Edinburgh Sketcher Mark Kirkham

“I am also proud of a drawing I created for Lidl a couple of years ago when they opened their Easter Road store,” he says. “Partly because it was slightly stylised and imagined as if looking down on the street, a stretch for me. It’s one you can still see on the wall in their shop.”

Mark has no hesitation when asked what inspires him to pick up his pen.

“Often it’s a new view, it doesn’t have to be beautiful or iconic, just a different way of looking at something. Edinburgh must be one of the most photographed and drawn cities in the world but each of us can draw it in a different way.”

Restricted by the lock down, Mark has found he now has to take advantage of his daily exercise hour to ensure his work remains fresh.

He says, “As a family we have been taking daily walks or early morning cycles around Granton, during which I can take photos of places like Granton beach, which I draw later, when I’m back inside. I have also drawn some windows from my walks with NHS rainbows in them, and one from my window upstairs, which includes roof tops and Arthur’s Seat.”

Much of time these days, finds Mark in his garden, another source of inspiration for him. He admits the restrictions are having a profound effect upon him. “Limited by what I can draw has made me look more closely at the immediate world around me, sketching my bedroom office, my cat Mocha and a glass of wine,” he reflects. “We are fortunate to have a garden and so that has inspired some flower drawings.”

As the realities of lock down dawned, those flower drawings gave Mark an idea. At a time when many are unable to go out, yet don’t want to miss the birthday of a loved one or fail to mark a special occasion, Edinburgh Sketcher could provide the answer, while, at the same time, raising much needed funds for our cash-strapped NHS.

He explains, “I’m selling original quick sketch flower cards, which can be personalised with the buyers own message on the front and inside.

“You can also pick a particular flower for me to draw.”

The cards are already proving popular. Each one costs £4.95, which includes UK postage (for overseas add an additional £1.50) with 10% of all sales going to the NHS Lothian Covid-19 Appeal.

Mark reflects, “As well as keeping me busy and giving my daily exercise walk a purpose, it has been very uplifting to read the messages people are sending. There have been a few like, ‘Wish you were here, stay safe and we will all be together again soon’, as well as more upsetting ones such as ‘We are thinking of you at this sad time’."

Looking back over his first decade as Edinburgh Sketcher, Mark admits it’s hard to pick the piece of work of which he is most proud.

“Whilst I am working on a sketch, whether that is for 30 minutes or three weeks, that is my favourite piece, but once it is done, I have almost forgotten it and am on to the next piece,” he reveals, adding, “I have a lack of patience which perhaps makes speed sketching the perfect outlet for my creativity. I just wish I started doing it earlier.”

For more details and to help Edinburgh Sketcher raise funds for the NHS Lothian Covid-19 Appeal, visit https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/777656956/personalised-painted-gift-cards-to-send

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