The New House Has Nuthatches
One thing we were delighted to discover when we moved into The New House was that the peanut feeders in the garden were frequented by nuthatches. They are a bird I've always admired but not known a great deal
Walter the Beaver
You know those days at work when you have a billion important work tasks to do (like preparing for Scotland's Trade Fair this weekend) but instead you manage to sketch a cheeky beaver called Walter? I'm having one of
Looking Back and Looking Forward: A New Year
I like to take the opportunity at the start of the new year to take a moment to look back at the year that has just left us, and to look ahead to the year to come. This year it
A Scottish Borders Christmas Gift Guide
As part of the Just A Card campaign that highlights the value of shopping from independent makers, shops and galleries, I've put together a quick guide to some of my favourite makers in right here in the Scottish Borders. Don't
On Hibernation
This is the time of year - in the midst of the peak autumn glory - that I start to think about hibernating. I feel the creeping darkness shortening the day, the cold wind nips at my ears, and I
Scotland Rewards You – A Harris Holiday Blog
We're not long back from a wild but wonderful trip to the Isle of Harris, which lies 24 miles from the nearest point on the mainland, across a strip of water called the Minch. It was my first trip to
Designing the Calendar Every Year Is My Favourite Job
I have very many lovely tasks in my working life. That's mostly because I made up my own job and therefore gave myself lovely assignments. I've created a role that combines three of the things I'm most passionate about: drawing,
September Wildlife: What To Look Out For in Nature This Month
I am writing this month's edition of the Wildlife blog from a very windy isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. I'm here for a week with Ross & Buddy Dog. We drove up through Skye which was showing signs
Leaving Teapot Street
Tomorrow we say goodbye to our happy little house on Teapot Street and move to a new (bigger
August Wildlife: What to Look Out For in Nature This Month
The countryside starts to look a little untidy in August. The long grasses of July have grown heavy with seed-heads and over-estimated their strength. They flop about and fall over like unruly drunks. Buddy's coat is full of grass seeds