A plume of steam appears in the landscape if you go to or from Inverness through the A96

Norbord is a leading global manufacturer of wood-based panels and the world’s largest producer of Oriented Strand Board (OSB)Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) and related value-added products.

Ferryboat at Loch Ness

Loch Ness is simply overflowing with fascinating myths, turbulent history and tales of a legendary monster. No visit to the Scottish Highlands is complete without a tour of this world-famous landmark.

Centre of Inverness

Being in Inverness can feel somewhat overwhelming when you’re in the more remote parts of Scotland but a visit is highly recommended if not obligatory. Besides a very interesting and welcoming city, Inverness is also a perfect gateway to discover the northern part of Scotland and there are many interesting tourist attractions close by such as Fort George, The Black Isle and Chanonry Point, Nairn, Beauly and the Cairngorms.

Inverness

This entry of my graphic diary is about Inverness. In the drawing we may find in the center one of the familiar statues of the unicorn. Around you got also seagulls, and that kind of representation is quite common. Is like if you had a glimpse into how you can find in there real and imaginary beings at the same time. In these uplands of the North, sometimes covered in mists, it seams that the magical realm where the unicorns, the fairies and other mythical and well-behaved beings are, is alive and still exist. Is where you get the feeling that dreams can come true.

Bridge of Don

Bridge of Don is one of the entries into the city. The main city of Aberdeen is in between two rivers, Dee and Don, both beautiful and a sanctuary for several wild life species. I spend many pleasant moments in Don mouth, drawing and walking through the beach next to the north sea.

Field with rabbits

 

One of the things I found most fantastic upon arriving in Aberdeen was the contact with wildlife. As soon as spring begins the rabbits jump all over the fields and gardens. I also start to met frequently foxes and deer among other inhabitants.

St Nicholas Shopping Centre

This is one of the entrances to the mall, coming from Union Street and with the Kirk just on your left side.

Spring is everywhere in Aberdeen

One of the things that you discover, is that the grey city isn't grey at all. All over you find blossom flower with rainbow colors.   

Slains Castle, Aberdeen

Slains Castle in Belmont Street is a little different to your average pub. Set in an old church, the pub is a must see venue in the heart of Aberdeen. Great food menus and drinks!

Aberdeen 2016

I explain that this blog is about places and impressions of Scotland. I´m starting by post one of my sketch books from 2016. Mainly it contains drawings of Aberdeen and surroundings. This is Union Street, Aberdeen, where all cross at some point.

SOUL, Aberdeen

SOUL is a historic former Greyfriars Church into an upmarket bar on Broad Street. Soul is a lovely place, with food fresh and delicious! Drinks menu is great to.

George Street

You can find in the gray city drops of color everywhere. In this sketch the orange brought by the shop l’Occitane on George Street  and gives a nice taint.

1

Crows at St. Nicholas

This drawings were made in St. Nicholas churchyard in the middle of old burial stones, some with inscriptions  and big trees. I was there for a while and it gave me the opportunity to draw different poses of the crows that where around enjoying as well. This is an emblematic place in the centre of the city and is also a meeting-place, for children as well as adults.

Unicorn at King's College, Aberdeen

King's College, Aberdeen. King's is now the centre of Aberdeen University. The unicorn is one of two statues flanking the entrance to King's college Visitor Centre. The tower seen on the left sketch sits above King's College Chapel and is a rare example of an "imperial crown", open stonework. King's was founded in 1495 by Bishop Elphinstone.

Aunty Betty´s - Stonehaven

 

 Auntie Betty's on the Stonehaven Promenade has delicious ice cream, cream cakes, and other sweeties. Coffee, little gifts, a wee treat for your dog, lovely chocolates...the shop is full of Things that make you lose your head as a beautiful rustic decoration. 

Stonehaven

Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and is here that you start the journey to access Dunnottar Castle. It is known informally to locals as Stoney. This sketch is from the top of the hill near the war Memorial monument.

Inside Dunnottar Castle

The ruins of the castle are spread over 1.4 hectares (3.5 acres), surrounded by steep cliffs that drop to the North Sea, 50 metres (160 ft) below. A narrow strip of land joins the headland to the mainland, along which a steep path leads up to the gatehouse. The various buildings within the castle include the 14th-century tower house as well as the 16th-century palace. Dunnottar Castle as twelve structures on the site that are listed buildings, witch means that has been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 

Also if you come here you benefit from the excitement of being in a truly incredible location.

Honours of Scotland

The Honours of Scotland, also known as the Scottish Regalia and the Scottish Crown Jewels, dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, are the oldest surviving set of crown jewels  They were used for the coronation of Scottish monarch from 1543  until 1651. Since then, they have been used to represent Royal Assent to legislation in both the Estates of Parliament and the Scottish Parliament, and they were at hidden from Oliver Cromwell´s invading army in the 17th century.

There are three primary elements of the Honours of Scotland: the Crown, the Sceptre, and the Sword of State. These elements also appear on the crest of the royal coat of arms of Scotland and on the Scottish version of the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, where the red lion of the King of the Scots is depicted wearing the Crown and holding both the Sword and the Sceptre.

Dunnottar Castle

This dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress  is called in Scottish Gaelic  Dùn Fhoithear, “fort on the shelving slope”. It is a ruined medieval fortress located upon a rocky headland on the north-east coast of Scotland, about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Stonehaven. Dunnottar has played a prominent role in the history of Scotland through to the 18th-century Jacobite rising because of its strategic location and defensive strength.

If you practice well the imagination you can even see some scenes of the movie Hamlet released in 1990 and  filmed at Dunnottar Castle or perhaps Mel Gibson .

War Memorial - Stonehaven and Dunnottar

The Stonehaven and Dunnotar war memorial is located in the The Black Hill. It takes the form of a large sandstone, circular ruined Doric temple with eight pillars, raised on three high steps of rustic blocks. The commemoration and names of the WWI dead are listed on a dressed grey granite stone with a pinkish hue which stands in the centre of the paved enclosure which is entered into via a wide stair and wrought iron gate. On the inner wall of the enclosure are set four additional granite tablets listing the names of the WWII dead.  The monument stands and is clearly visible from the distance above the road on a headland south of Stonehaven.  The  approach to the memorial via a dirt track running up the edge of a farmer’s field.  Inscribed on the external faces of the lintel stones:  SOMME – MARNE – ZEEBRUGGE – GALLIPOLI – JUTLAND and Inscribed above the entrance: A TRIBUTE 1914 TO THEIR DEAD 1919.

Wen I was there the fields were cover with  beautiful daffodils and a child was collecting some just in front of me.

Smith’s Screen

This sketch is a view from the left side of the entrance on the St. Nicholas Kirk, through Union Street. The facade of St Nicholas Kirkyard is well known as Smith’s Screen.

Castlegate with Aberdeen's Mercat Cross

Castlegate generally speaking, encompass the square at the end of Union Street where the Mercat Cross and Gallowgate are located. In the center of the drawing is the Mercat Cross that was built in 1686 by John Montgomery, a native architect. This open-arched structure, is a large hexagonal base from the centre of which rises a shaft with a Corinthian capital, on which is the royal unicorn. The base is highly decorated, including medallions illustrating Scottish monarchs. Furthermore unicorns, lions and leopards are very popular symbols around here.  

Kilt for men in Scotland

Near Kirk St. Nicholas in the street were the cabs stop you find it.

St John Church, Aberdeen

The building has lots of detail and is profusely ornate, in this sketch I just give a faint look at the main structure.

Castlegate

Castlegate, the fog was strong in the morning, and literally I could hardly see my hand when outstretched.  At the upper end of Castlegate stands The Salvation Army Citadel, an effective castellated mansion, on the site of the medieval Aberdeen Castle, this is a view from there into Castle street.

Damnation, Salvation and Education

(His Majesty’s Theater) the three buildings are known locally as Damnation, Salvation and Education. His Majesty’s Theater next to St Mark’s Church and the Central Library.

Don Seascape

Aberdeen the  beautiful Granite City by the sea. In here there are attractions and wonderful places to visit around Aberdeenshire. You may also enjoy to learn the local dialect which is called Doric.Aber’ means mouth of a river and the breathtakingly beautiful River Dòn and Dee runs through the city, hence the name. I painted this near river Don, one of the entry points into the city.

Deleuze and Breakfast

Whenever I can I start my day with some reading and breakfast of course. Sometimes the reading is not so light. Deleuze is one of my main research subjects (Difference and Repetition).