Posts by Ellie Forbes
The 10 most important Scottish artists you should know about
Ahead of Bonhams Scottish Art auction on 15 May in Edinburgh, Specialist and Head of Sale, May Matthews, introduces ten of the most important Scottish artists from the last 250 years. Henry Raeburn Perhaps Scotland’s most well-known painter, Henry Raeburn (1756–1823) had a tremendously successful career as a portrait painter in the late 18th…
Read MoreReview: The Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh
It was Coco Chanel who said ‘luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it’s not luxury.’ And I think it’s fair to say the purveyors of grandeur at Edinburgh’s famous The Caledonian Hotel have taken this motto to heart. An imposing block of red sandstone on Edinburgh’s premier Princes Street, The Caley, as it’s affectionately known, oozes…
Read MoreAmanda Hayler: ‘Art became a form of escapism from the real world after my cancer diagnosis’
Art has always been a part of Amanda Hayler’s life. She remembers loving to draw from a very young age, from cats and castles to trees and princesses. After high school she even considered training to become a medical illustrator. But it wasn’t until she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2012, aged 47,…
Read MoreKiefer Sutherland: Hollywood star brings new whisky to the UK
Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland has unveiled his new whisky to the UK, a homage to his Canadian roots and love of the spirit. The whisky, Red Bank, claimed Gold this year at the world-renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition and is said to embody good taste, good times, good friends and the rich heritage and…
Read MoreIn a nutshell, Chef Tom Tsappis: ‘I’d love to cook for Tom Cruise’
Chef Tom Tsappis and his wife Matilda moved from London to Killiecrankie in 2021 to realise their dream of opening their own restaurant. Killiecrankie House in Pitlochry was named restaurant of the year at the Scottish Excellence Awards 2024. What’s the closest thing you have to a signature dish: Dripping Fried Porridge. A piece…
Read MoreOsprey YouTube star Laddie found dead
He became Scotland’s most famous bird of prey after delighting birdwatchers on YouTube. But now conservationists have revealed osprey Laddie has been found dead in Perthshire. Police Scotland said the remains of an osprey were found near Dunkeld on Friday. The protected species is believed to have been nesting at Loch of the Lowes nature…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Marion Todd: ‘Wuthering Heights is entirely miserable, I just didn’t care what happened to the characters’
Marion Todd on being inspired to write crime fiction by Kate Atkinson, why she always recommends Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and her best three books of the year. The first book I remember reading: The Little Red Hen – a Ladybird book. I still have my dog-eared copy and it’s like an old friend.…
Read MoreThe Good Books, Jenni Daiches: ‘Books have been my companions from earliest memory’
Jenni Daiches on books being her eariest companions, listening to audio books during a period of near blindness, and why she loves Elizabeth Strout and Hilary Mantell. The first book I remember reading: Books have been my companions from earliest memory. I’m not sure how old I was when I read The Little Reindeer…
Read MoreDior to host fashion show at Scottish castle which featured in Outlander
Dior has chosen a Scottish castle which featured in hit TV show Outlander as the venue to unveil its newest collection. The brand’s Cruise 2025 line will be showcased in the gardens of Drummond Castle near Crieff, in Perthshire, on 3 June, 2024. Silhouettes ‘dreamed up’ by Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri will be shown…
Read More‘Scotland’s first dog friendly chippy’ launches in St Andrews
A chip shop in St Andrews says it has become ‘Scotland’s first dog-friendly chippy’ with the launch of a dedicated menu for diners’ pooches. The new dog-friendly menu at Cromars Classic Fish and Chips, costing £2.00, includes beef sausages and puppucinnos, with 50% of all sales generated donated to the Scottish SPCA. The chippy was…
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