20FEATUREThe Edinburgh ReporterGothic spire speaks volumes for ScottWords and photos by Martin PMcAdamSir John Robert Steell (18September 1804 – 15 September1891) is one of Edinburgh’s mostprolific sculptors.His works include the statueof Sir Walter Scott (1771- 1832)sitting with his faithful deerhound,Steell's statue of Sir Walter ScottBy Stephen RaffertySetting up a jewellery businessduring the lockdown was not somuch a lightbulb moment as anecessity for Erin Budden.The technical sales executiveat the EICC was one of a numberof staff furloughed at the eventsvenue and she had to findsomething to occupy her time.So pulling on her childhooddays when playing around withjewellery with her mum, andinspiration from a stay in Australia,Erin launched Chandelier & Skittlesand is now shipping custom-madeearrings around the world.Erin, 27, said: “During lockdown,I knew I would have to dosomething creative, otherwiseI would go insane, so I had tofind something to keep me busy.When I was younger, mum and mewould muck about with jewelleryas you do, so I guess that was aninfluence, and then when I wentto Australia a couple of yearsago, I came across lots and lotsof earrings styled like I had neverseen before.”She ordered materials andstarted experimenting by creatingdifferent styles of earrings andbrooches for friends and family,and to her surprise she found theywere a hit, with requests coming into make more as gifts."I started off just doing it formyself, I made a couple of nicebrooches for my mum, sheshowed them to a few of herfriends and I sent a few pics tosome friends across the countrywho said they would like some forMaida, under the Scott Monumenton Princes Street. One cannotvisit Edinburgh without seeingthe impressive gothic monumentto one of the country’s greatestpoets and novelists, sitting in EastPrinces Street Gardens. The spirerises to a height of 61 metres andis constructed from sandstonefrom the Binny Quarry located nearErin's earrings hit the sweet spotbirthday gifts.Before lockdown Ialways believed I was not creative- I can’t draw, I can’t play aninstrument, but it is funny how youcan find different things you cando. The more materials I orderedonline the more I found I had towatch tutorials, videos and readblogs, and I really got into it.”Erin describes her range as“bold, unique, statement pieces”and they can be ordered in amultitude of colours with a choiceof different backings to caterfor customers with particularallergens. Prices range fromapproximately £6 to £15 andErin Budden @chandelier_and_skittles and on EtsyBroxburn in West Lothian. Thebase of the monument is formedfrom arched diagonal buttressescreating a square vault above thestatue of Scott.The architect was shepherd's sonGeorge Michael Kemp, a carpenterand self taught architect.Following Scott’s death in 1832,the architect William Burn andErin offers free UK postage. Shehas also received orders fromAmsterdam, Hawaii and Texas.She is working on a range ofclip-on earrings for younger girlsand has designed a range ofbookmarks for the Christmasmarket.Crossword Answers by David AlburyThe name Chandelier & Skittlescame from an automatic businessname generator. Erin added:“Chandelier is supposed to soundlike earrings but I thought it wasso daft I wouldn’t even think aboutit, but it just stuck. Now with eachorder, I include a small packet ofSkittles sweets as an extra.”Across: 1. Landau, 5. Repast, 8. Fecundate, 9. Tepid, 11. Unit,12. Macedonian, 13. Tone poem, 15. Rumba, 17. Imbue, 19. Fruit cup,22. Pasteurise, 23. Orca, 25. Noise, 26. Rabbinate, 27. Anklet, 28. Winner.Down: 2. Auction, 3. Dent, 4. Unawares, 5. Reeves, 6. Pot pourri,7. Sophism, 8. Fountain pen, 10. Dental plate, 14. Piecemeal,16. Crossbow, 18. Bastion, 20. Carnage, 21. Dry-rot, 24 Sign.The Duke of Buccleuch formeda committee and launched acompetition to create a monumentto Scott. Kemp was shortlistedin third place from 55 entrants.He had entered the competitionunder the name John Morvo,the medieval master mason ofMelrose Abbey.The committee could not agreea final design and asked the finalthree entrants to submit moredesigns and drawings. Kemp hadworked in the office of WilliamBurn where perhaps he hadperfected some architecturalskill and he somehow won thecompetition.The foundation stone was laidon 15 August 1840 on solid rockat a depth of 16 metres below thelevel of the street. Constructionbegan in 1841 with permissionunder Parliament's Monument toSir Walter Scott Act and ran fornearly four years. The builder wasDavid Lind, great nephew of LordProvost George Lind. Works werecompleted in 1844, and Kemp'sson placed the finial at the topas his father had drowned theprevious March after falling intothe Union Canal on his way homeafter a contractors' meeting.The Scott Monument hasbeen referred to as “the largestmonument in the world dedicatedto a writer”, but unfortunatelythis is not true. The José MartíMemorial in Havana, Cuba,The Edinburgh SketcherMark, The Edinburgh Sketcherruns sketching workshops.These are usually organisedat various sites around the cityincluding the city centre, the NewTown and Leith.Mark will teach you his tips andtechniques for sketching quicklyon the go in a relaxed way. Noexperience is necessary as he willgive you a step-by -tep guide. Bookon his website and you could soonbe capturing the world around youin ink and watercolours.As the lockdown has meant no inperson workshops can go aheadMark has teamed up with artistArt skills will blossom with Marktakes that title, reaching 109metres, 48 metres higher thanthe Scott Monument. The Cubanmemorial has a lift taking visitorsto an observation deck aboveHavana. Those wishing to seea panorama of Edinburgh willbrave an increasingly narrowspiral staircase - but the view isspectacular.The statue of Scott was sculptedby Steell from a single 30 tonneblock of Italian Carrara marble.Apparently on first being loadedon an Italian ship, either the shipsank or the marble fell into theharbour. The statue shows Scottseated, holding presumably oneof his works in his hands withhis faithful his dog Maida by hisside and named after the battlewhich took place near the town ofMaida in Calabria, southern Italy,on the 4 July 1806. Maida was agift from Alexander Macdonell, afriend of Scott, and whose brotherapparently led the victorious 78thHighlanders into the battle for theBritish against the French duringthe Napoleonic Wars.The Binny quarry was reopenedfor the restoration works carriedout by The City of EdinburghCouncil in 1998. Unfortunately themarble statue has been vandalisedand on closer inspection a rangeof graffiti can be seen both onScott’s head and on the book thathe is holding.and teacher Cassandra Harrisonto provide a fortnightly 75 minuteZoom workshop looking at variousartists work, their processes andart mediums. Each session theywill talk you through creating apiece of art which you can do inyour own social bubble at home.All abilities are welcome as thisis more about providing a creativecommunity who can meet onlineand share the process of makingart. The 75 minute workshop costs£10 or £7.50 for concessions.www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/edinburgh-sketcher-11071406115
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