Sketching Edinburgh

I am Cait Webb, an Edinburgh-based artist, who also dabbles in music and science. I have always enjoyed sketching and painting from life and on location. Over the last few years I have systematically carried a sketchbook (with pencil, ink pen, water brush, and pigment, see more below) whenever I am out and about in Edinburgh. I look out for odd corners, unusual perspectives on well-known landmarks, and particularly the interesting play of light and shade across the beautiful architecture of this city.

I try to complete all sketches on location. Usually this takes 30-60 minutes. Sometimes by then the light has changed, or (typically in Edinburgh) the weather has altered completely. Or I might have got too cold, or be running late for my next engagement. I usually start with a pencil sketch to get the composition and proportions right, then use a series of quick washes to capture the light, followed by a more detailed drawing with ink. Have a look at the time lapse video below to see the process in action.

I’ve put together a very compact sketching kit. It consists of an A5 notebook, a multi-lead hard pencil for drafting, a water-brush (a brush with an internal water reservoir), a fine-nib black drawing pen, and a custom ‘palette’ cut from a plastic top, attached with a clip and carrying a blob of Payne’s grey watercolour paint. This has proved ideal as a system to carry with ease. It can be used standing up, although I often also take along my trusty light-weight folding stool, to allow convenient sketching from exactly the viewpoint that has caught my eye.