May 2025

Art Meets Music

I love going to concerts also art and photography exhibitions. So I was delighted to be asked to cover the opening of an exhibition of artworks by illustrator Katie Smith in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s Clyde Foyer.  The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) have installed nine original artworks by the Scottish illustrator. Music Director Thomas Søndergård and the RSNO musicians featured in the illustrations came along to see their images. They all looked fantastic. They had with their supporters who had all given generously via the Orchestra’s Chair Patron scheme. The RSNO Chair Patron programme supports the vital and extensive work of the whole organisation and enables individuals, trusts and corporate organisations to build meaningful and impactful relationships with RSNO musicians.

To illustrate the RSNO’s musicians in her signature colourful style, Glasgow-born Katie was given open access to a range of rehearsals and concerts. Using the individual characteristics of the eight selected musicians and Music Director Thomas Søndergård, she aimed to bring a sense of movement into the portraits. My favourite was the picture of Principal Cello Pei-Jee Ng, who I got to replicate his picture position in the photograph. He ended up on the front page of The Scotsman and in The Herald too.   

There was a lovely picture of Katie in The National too.

High Kicking Picture back in Style

I met a fab group of Glasgow 850 volunteers outside The Savings Bank, one of the amazing Clyde Chorus Venues. As Glasgow was getting ready to host the Glasgow 850th celebration at the weekend, the volunteers were all sporting their new bright pink T shirts. One of them asked if I could do a picture of them all doing a high kick. I said that was one of our standard pictures of a big group back in the day on the Evening Times picture desk. It worked out brilliantly. They loved the laugh it produced … all the news outlets that used an image chose the high kicking picture. I think it is time to bring ‘the high kick’ back into fashion. It was suggested by Corrie Campbell who I was working with at the photocall.

Summer Time is BBQ Time

I usually burn anything I put near a BBQ. Its actually best to put it in the oven with a timer and an alarm clock so I do not burn anything in fact. So it was an education to watch Gary Maclean, a former MasterChef champion from Glasgow,  team up with Mary’s Meals to encourage people to support the charity during National BBQ Week. He was asking people to made a small donation to the charity when they have the BBQ during National BBQ week. He put everything on at one and let it all cook with minimal turning and it all came out perfectly. His fav suggestion was peppers stuffed with haggis. He gave some of his top tips too including marinating meat overnight, bringing meat or fish to room temperature before cooking, using two heat zones on the barbecue, adding a bit of smoke, and letting meat rest before carving. It really was an education. 

Young Filmmakers

I was working with writer and producer Jo Hall at St Roch’s Primary and Deaf school for the start of Deaf Awareness Week 2025. The pupils were making their to make their own animation. The project, funded by Creative Scotland, had the youngsters create their own characters and films in a series of creative workshops. It was fantastic to see the young people interacting and loving the whole filming process. St Roch’s Primary and Deaf School and also Isobel Mair School were working with Jo to create their own characters and films in a series of creative workshops held in May and June. The finished animations are available to watch on the JoJo Gnome website at www.jojognome.com 

More Music for May

I had another lovely visit into the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to photograph the hugely talented Internationally renowned violinist and RSNO’s Artist in Residence Randall Goosby  as he performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto alongside the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He played so well and his playing style was magnificent for someone so young. After the concert had finished, I was at our local Bowling Club playing guitar in a gig to raise funds for the club. I am afraid my performance could not be said in the same breath but with all my off notes and wrong chords it was still fun.