#65: Untitled, Red & Yellow

Postcard sent to Anna-Karina Henderson, an old friend from my teenage days in Edinburgh. She’s now happily married with two kids, living up in Angus, North East Scotland.

[Part of The Scottish Project.]

#024: love, loss, religion, ambition

[BELATED ENTRY] Postcard sent to Colin Morrison, an Edinburgh-based lawyer that I was introduced to by my very old friend, Colin Gilchrist.

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here.

#023: this very sweet apple

[BELATED ENTRY] Postcard sent to Kenris MacLeod (no relation), an Edinburgh fine artist whose work Muriel Gray turned me on to.

She lives in Goldenacre, the neighborhood where I used to buy my sweeties after school.

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here.

#057: are we done

Postcard sent to Alistair Mackenzie, Scottish actor and younger brother of David Mackenzie, the film director.

I’ve known Al since he was fourteen. One of the loveliest, sweetest guys you’ll ever meet. Such fun, such good energy, a real gentleman, to boot.

About twenty years ago he shot to fame as Archie MacDonald, the leading character in the global hit TV show, “Monarch of The Glen”. One of the tabloids named him as “Britain’s Sexiest Man” soon after.

I’m pleased to report that Al didn’t let any of this stuff go to his head. He’s still lovely Al, through and through. Hurrah!

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here

#056: shadow of death

Postcard sent to my sister, Sarah who, obviously, is also a Scot.

She and I both had years where we faced more than our fare share of adversity… but here we are, none too worse for wear. Plenty to be grateful for.

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here

#055: grievance politics cannot ever be sated

Postcard sent to Maajid Nawaz, the London-based activist and media personality.

Maajid and I met in Edinburgh in 2011 at Ted Global, we’ve been friends ever since. He commisioned a large drawing from me a few years ago, and we also hung out in New York the last time we were both there at the same time.

Maajid hosts a well-know LBC talk radio show where he manages to tick off all the right people. He is no friend of extremists- Islamic and non-Islamic alike. A champion of decency, common sense and moderation, he takes a lot of shit from the crazies on social media, including death threats. Frankly, I think he’s a national hero and should be given a Knigthhood, or at least, an MBE. It’ll probably happen eventually,

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here

#053: the hard part

Postcard sent to Ian Peter “Peeps” MacDonald, an old family friend.

Peeps is a serial entrepreneur. He was a couple of years older than me at The Edinburgh Academy, then he moved school to Ampleforth, where he became god pals with my future brother-in-law.

His dad and my dad were great friends. Peeps has worn many hats over the years, currently he’s running a Scots Highland microbrewery in Lochaber. My favorite story of his is, he was the chap who started printing famous paintings onto fridge magnets, then selling them in museum shops.

Art museum fridge magnets are pretty ubiquitous now, they weren’t back then.

As for the actual drawing: For most of my career, I had no idea where it was all taking me. Would I stay in advertising? Would I be a cartoonist? A writer? An entrepreneur? A marketing consultant? Who the hell knew? Not me.

So thirty years into it, here I am, doing my thing. Drawing pictures for clients, or drawing pictures for myself and my friends. Writing the occasional piece of copy, simply because no one else on the team can do it as quickly or easily as I can. And that’s about it.

After much zig-zagging, it seems that I have arrived, after all. I know Peeps can relate.

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here.

copenhagen

Scottish Project #036 just landed in Copengen, none too worse for wear. Thanks, Martin for the photo!

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here.

#052: thank you for inspiring me

Postcard sent to Sondre Lerche, the Norwegian musician and songwriter. I’ve been a fan of his music for many years. I don’t know him personally, but we natter a lot on Twitter.

Read more about “The Scottish Project” here.