Wednesday 25 January 2012

Celebrate Burns Night with a Robert Burns Pizza


A SCOTS pizza company has combined two of Scotland’s favourite foods just in time for Burns night- haggis pizza.

Cosmo Tamburro Jnr, a restaurateur in Edinburgh has launched the UK’s first retail haggis pizza to offer an alternative to the traditional neeps, tatties and haggis supper.

And to celebrate the launch of the luxury pizza, available in supermarkets across the country, the Newtongrange-based restaurateur has designed a special Robert Burns’ portrait pizza.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Edinburgh Life


Front Cover of Edinburgh Life magazine featuring Yang Guang, the male panda settling into his new life at Edinburgh Zoo

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Edinburgh's Mystery Paper Sculptures


‘poetree’ sculpted from ‘A Trace of Wings’ by Edwin Morgan.

Next to the ‘poetree’ sits a paper egg lined with gold and a scatter of words which, when put together, make “A Trace of Wings” by Edwin Morgan.

The tag reads: "It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree.… … We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words.… This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. a gesture (poetic maybe?)."

Found in the Scottish Poetry Library, March 2011.




‘A gramophone and a coffin’ sculpted from ‘Exit Music’ by Ian Rankin’s

The tag reads: "For @natlibscot – A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. (& against their exit)."

Found in the National Library of Scotland in June 2011.




‘cinematic diorama’ carved from a Rankin novel.

A complex scene in a paper cinema; punters arrayed on seats watching men and horses coming alive from the screen and charging outwards.

Amongst the audience is a figure with Ian Rankin’s face, clutching a Deuchar’s.

The tag reads: "@filmhouse – A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. and all things *magic*."

Found in the Filmhouse, June 2011.




‘Dragon’ carved from a Rankin novel

The tag reads: "For @scotstorycentre – A gift in support of libraries, books, works, ideas….. Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story….."

Found in the Scottish Story Telling Centre, July 2011.





A teabag filled with cut out letters, on the tag of which are the words “by leaves we live”. The cup on the top has a swirl of words which read ”Nothing beats a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a really good BOOK”, and on the ‘tray’ next to the cupcake it says “except maybe a cake as well”.

The tag reads: "To @edbookfest ‘A gift’ This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…… & festivals xx"

Found at the Edinburgh Book Festival, August 2011.




Sculpted from James Hogg’s The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinnerby. A favourite of the City of Literature team but is also known to have been an influence on Ian Rankin’s work.

The tag reads: "To @edincityoflit ‘A gift’ LOST (albeit in a good book) This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. “No infant has the power of deciding….. by what circumstances (they) shall be surrounded.. Robert Owen"

Found at UNESCO City of Literature Stand, The Edinburgh Book Festival, August 2011.




‘book with a magnifying glass’

The tag reads: "For Central Library ‘A Gift’ @Edinburgh_CC This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. LIBRARIES ARE EXPANSIVE."

The word EXPANSIVE was originally written as EXPENSIVE. You can see the adjustment in the image.

Found in the Central Lending Library, August 2011.




The sculpture is made from Ian Rankin's second Rebus novel, Hide and Seek, and possibly represents a scene from Robert Louis Stevenson’s book The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

The tag reads: “@CuratorEMG A Gift “The stories are in the stones” Ian Rankin In support of Libraries, Books, Words, Ideas …… and Writers.”

Found in the Writer's Museum, November 2011.




‘Tyrannosaurus Rex’ sculpted from Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World

The tag reads: “For @NtlMuseumsScot A Gift Your friends at @edbookfest suggested you might like this. …. In support of libraries, books, words, ideas and those places that house our treasures……”

Found in the National Museum of Scotland, November 2011.




‘cap made of wings and a pair gloves’

The tag reads: “To @ByLeavesWeLive……. THE GIFTS “Gloves of bee’s ful, cap of the Wren’s Wings…….” Norman McCaig …. maybe sometimes impossible things… In support of LIbraries, Books, Words Ideas…."

Found in the Scottish Poetry Library, November 2011.


Brought together by Creative Scotland for an event at the Scottish Parliament.

Monday 2 January 2012

11 for 2011


Bell Rock Lighthouse
Client: Weber Shandwick



Festival of Museums Launch in Glasgow
Client: 3x1 Public Relations



First Minister Alex Salmond
Client: Holyrood Magazine



Wickerman Festival
Client: 3x1 Public Relations



Joanna Lumley launches the fund to save Moat House in Dumfries
Client: Jude Henderson PR



Ring of Brodgar, Orkney
Client: Historic Scotland



Dougie MacLean performs at Blair Castle during Perthshire Amber
Client: Butterstone Events



Virgin Money Edinburgh International Festival Fireworks
Client: Edinburgh International Festival



National Museum of Scotland reopens to the public
Client: National Museums of Scotland



Artist John Byrne
Client: Podge Publicity



The Pandas arrive at Edinburgh Zoo
Client: Weber Shandwick