In the frame: How advice from her dying dad led Alison McWhirter to become one of UK’s leading artists

Alison McWhirter’s paintings have achieved global recognition, attracting a devoted following of private collectors. But a decade ago, things were very different for the Dumfriesshire-born Scottish painter. Alison had a secure career in teaching and publishing when her terminally ill father told her: ‘Look you’re a painter, you’ve always wanted to be a painter. So…

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REVIEW: Discover the Deep at Dynamic Earth

A preview of the new wonders at Dynamic Earth’s “Discover the Deep” is full of promise, and now it’s ready to welcome us aboard, writes Grant Dickie. Many may remember Dynamic Earth for its iconic iceberg exhibit, which is still standing strong. However, it is now welcoming visitors to a brand new and ambitious exhibition…

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Three Scots from jewellers Laings in 30 Under 30 list

Three individuals representing independent family-run jewellers Laings have been recognised as upcoming talent by leading industry title, Retail Jeweller, in its ‘30 under 30’ list. The annual top 30 rundown released earlier today features Laings’ designer Felicity Lynden, buyer Leah Wylie, and assistant marketing manager Iain Curran. Due to the impact they have had on…

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A brunch salad – with a coffee dressing

A Glencaple shop and café have worked with a Scottish coffee blender and roaster to create their own unique blend – and now they’re using it in a salad! Denyse Boyle, the manager of The Boathouse in Glencaple since August 2019, together with chef and co-manager Alanna Rogerson, helped create the special blend, currently available…

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Young people wanted to head for the ocean waves

The search is on for young Scots who want to experience a life changing sailing adventure. An organisation providing funded training opportunities alongside one of the biggest challenges in the world, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, will return this spring to deliver further programmes on the West Coast of Scotland. Our Isles and…

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Stone Moon: Seven portraits of seven poems

Stone Moon: Seven Portraits of Seven Poems is a collaborative exhibition by the distinguished British poet, Fiona Sampson and Edinburgh-based artist, Alison Grant. Initially intended for the Rodd in Herefordshire, along came Covid and the 2020 showing had to be postponed. Now six of the seven artworks have found their way onto the walls of…

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Tasty tartlets that make for a yummy dessert

Today we bring you our final recipe in association with Mutti, this time for a dessert. Mutti, the Italian tomato brand, has announced Hannah Such from Kilburn, London, as the winner of its nationwide cooking competition. Mutti’s mission is to raise the tomato to its highest expression and this contest challenged consumers across the UK…

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A fascinating insight into the history of Lewis

Lewis: The Story of an Island is a delve into the history of a great island in the Hebrides. This book explores the history of Lewis and its people as well as the mythologies, maps, architecture and of course the Gaelic language. Despite personal roots on the island, I have sadly never had the chance…

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Inception art show launches at Dalkeith Palace

Dalkeith Palace is hosting Inception, a new art sales exhibition launching this month, to showcase the work of handpicked British artists. In a world adapting to Covid-19, Inception has been created to allow artists, who have endured extremely tough times over these past 20 months, to collaboratively present their collections to the public. Artists’ collections…

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Aberlour Distillery collection worth £15,000 on sale

A chance encounter on a fishing trip to Rothiemurchus has paid off for a whisky collector. His rare collection of 66 bottles of single malt whisky made at the Aberlour Distillery in Speyside have gone on sale for more than £15,000. The huge collection of Aberlour A’bunadh has been hailed as one of the largest…

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