Fishink In Edinburgh Part 2

Welcome back to part two of my recent travels to Edinburgh. I was lucky to see two more exhibitions whilst here. The first features the photography of Robert Blomfield and is on at the City Art Gallery until March the 17th, the end of this week.

Robert Blomfield practised street photography across the UK from the 1950s to the 1970s, beginning in Edinburgh, where he studied medicine. He adopted an unobtrusive fly-on-the-wall approach, seeking interesting or amusing scenes in the rapidly changing post-war period. An engaging manner and healthy disrespect for authority allowed him to get close to a myriad of subjects, taking photographs that are in turn tender, bold and humorous.

A subsequent medical career meant that Blomfield’s vast collection of striking images – which carry echoes of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Vivian Maier – remained largely unseen, until a stroke forced him to put down his camera in 1999. Timed to coincide with his 80th birthday, this first large-scale display of his photographs will provide an opportunity for Blomfield to receive the recognition he rightly deserves.

The exhibition displays a selection of this stunning private archive, documenting the dramatic shifts taking place in Scotland’s urban landscape during the 1960s. It includes candid portraits and group shots, children playing amongst crumbling tenements, public gatherings, student life and evolving architecture, offering a rare opportunity to reappraise our understanding of Scottish culture at that time.

If you like Robert’s work, you may also wish to view my post about Vivian Maier.

Such a fascinating insight into life in Edinburgh in the mid sixties.

The second exhibition, I was very lucky to catch before it finished on Feb 23rd at the Scottish Gallery was Mark Hearld’s solo exhibition called “Studio Life”.

A wonderful collection of his paint and collage work.

Wonderful to see such an array of themes and sizes. Painted ceramics too.

It’s hard to appreciate the layering and texture that goes into Mark’s work without seeing it close up.

He still appears to be passionate about the birdlife he sees around him.

A friendly fox.

And a possible whippet too, Boo will be pleased.

More ceramics.

And a few close ups of details.

Great to see some of St Judes Fabrics with Mark’s designs in the exhibition too.

I felt very lucky to see Mark’s show and I always love the Scottish Gallery too, such a great space and friendly staff too.

I think my dog Boo enjoyed her first Scottish trip too. Hilltops, beaches and woodland walks, she had them all.

It was a fab time to visit with all the spring flowers in bloom too. Thank you Edinburgh, see you again soon.