This year marks the 250th anniversary of John Constable’s birth. Born in East Bergholt, Suffolk, Constable was a transformative figure in landscape painting, renowned for the freedom in his drawing and brushwork, and for his acutely observed depictions of the English countryside. Associated with Romanticism, he wrote that painting “is with me but another word for feeling.” He painted light and weather, the woods and lanes of his childhood, the canalized river Stour where his father was a miller, rural labourers and ancient ruins – at Old Sarum and Stonehenge. But he also painted wherever he found himself, familial places and places of companionship.

His good friend, John Fisher, was Bishop of Salisbury; and his stays in Brighton were determined by his wife Maria Bicknell’s ill health and her tuberculosis. His painting wasn’t so much the expression of wild mountain scenery or the drama of burgeoning industrialisation; instead, it expressed a depth of feeling that was very local and embedded in a sense of place – he once referred to his sketching as “laborious studies” and “a close and continual observance of nature”.

But I should paint my own places best – Painting is but another word for feeling. I associate my “careless boyhood” to all that lies on the banks of the Stour. They made me a painter (& I am grateful) that is I had often thought of pictures of them before I had ever touched a pencil.”  

From a letter to John Fisher.

Nature itself was John Constable’s primary subject, rather than a classical narrative scene that contained nature, for example. And although he learnt and studied from the old masters of classical landscape painting, his was a very different approach. His wonderful series of cloud studies are close scientific observation, not destroying poetry, as John Keats famously said of Isaac Newton, but creating it.

He wished to capture the liveliness and energy of the work that he made outside within his finished paintings. This was a primary concern of his renowned “six footers” (The Hay Wain being one of them), and for these vast impressive canvases, he made full-scale oil sketches which he used to explore his compositions, the lights and darks of the scenes, and specific details.

We have many books on Constable, including a wonderful very tiny facsimile edition of two of his sketchbooks from 1813 and 1814 – see below..!

Please do come and marvel and explore further!

That landscape painter who does not make skies a very material part of his composition neglects to avail himself of one of his greatest aids. The sky is the source of light in nature and governs everything.

The world is wide. No two days are alike, nor even two hours; neither were there ever two leaves of a tree alike since the creation of the world; and the genuine productions of art, like those of nature, are all distinct from each other.

John Constable

Visit the wonderful Art and Design Library at Central Library to see the John Constable 250 display.

The prize presentation was made particularly special by the attendance of Bill Anderson, the grandson of William Anderson, after whom the prize is named, and his son Billy Anderson, who travelled from Canada to support the event. Their generosity in sponsoring the prize made the 2025 competition possible.

We are also grateful to the Old Edinburgh Club for their central role in bringing the competition to fruition. The Club’s expert judging panel worked through a very competitive shortlist before selecting these two outstanding essays. Without the commitment and support of both Bill Anderson and the Old Edinburgh Club, the revival of this historic prize would not have been possible.

Both winning essays are available to read below and are available as printed copies in the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection at Central Library.

Winner: Ice Skating in Edinburgh by Anna Comrie

Runner-up: John Knox’s Grave Markers by Jennifer Findlay

The Blink of an Eye brings together the work of six artists who graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in June 1996. Thirty years later, they have reunited to present a collection of recent artworks celebrating this shared anniversary and reflecting the varied paths taken since they last exhibited together.

Each artist has contributed a statement on their practice.

Jane Alexander writes:

Jane Alexander trained as an illustrator at Edinburgh College of Art before embarking on a career as a novelist and short story writer. She now divides her time between writing, painting, and teaching creative writing at the University of Edinburgh. Her recent works in oils investigate deconstructed landscapes, hovering between representation, invention and discovery. Originally from Aberdeen, Jane has been based in Edinburgh for 30 years.

Gillian Baxter writes:

Since studying Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art from 1992 to 1996, my artistic practice has evolved over recent years to include printmaking and making artists’ books, alongside painting and drawing. This development has been led by my focus on the layers which I observe in nature, in both the natural and man-made landscapes and cityscapes. By using paint, print and pages of books in my artworks, my aim is to explore and convey these layers. I am also interested in the idea of layers as they relate to memory, both the construction of memories throughout life and the fragility of memory, as it can ebb away with old age and illness. Lo-fi printmaking techniques, such as the use of rubber stamps and craft foam, contrast with the pre-planned and considered approach of screen-printing. By exploring the book form, my aim is to create tactile three-dimensional artworks which can be contemplative or playful and intuitive, as a response to the materials used.

Stephanie Dees writes:

My work predominantly portrays the architecture and city landscape of Edinburgh, a city I studied and lived in for many years. I like to depict the different seasons and times of day in my work. I wish to convey the shifting light and the colour changes through the year and show how this affects the magnificent architecture of Edinburgh. 

From the lush greens and blue skies of an August day during the Edinburgh festival to the skeletal tree against a pale pastel palette of a winter’s afternoon. 

I absolutely loved my time studying at Edinburgh College of Art from 1992 to 1998. Since graduating in 1996 with a BA in painting, I remained at Edinburgh College of Art and did a Masters in Fine Art. On graduating in 1998, I moved to a WASPS’ provision studio and have been painting professionally ever since.

I predominantly show work with the Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh; Red Rag Gallery, Cheltenham; Fidra Fine Art, East Lothian; and White Space Gallery, Totnes. I was elected a member of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour in 2002. I am so blessed to have made some lifelong friends during my time at Edinburgh College of Art, and this exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to exhibit our work 30 years on; a chance to celebrate our close lasting friendships and love of art.

Alison McGill writes:

Alison McGill has been a practising artist based at Wasps Studios in Edinburgh since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 1998. Her work is deeply rooted in the Scottish landscape and coastline, drawing particular inspiration from her surroundings in East Lothian. During her studies, she began exploring the combination of wax and oil paint, developing richly impastoed surfaces characterised by tactile depth. This has evolved into a highly refined process of layering, excavation, and reworking, in which melted wax reveals fused colours evocative of geological formations and the elemental contours of the land. While grounded in traditional landscape observation, often informed by chalk pastel studies, her practice increasingly embraces abstraction, guided by the interaction of materials and influenced by aerial photography and geological imagery.

McGill exhibits regularly at The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, and has presented numerous solo exhibitions there between 2003 and 2020. Her work has also been widely shown in major annual exhibitions across Scotland, including the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Glasgow Institute. She is the recipient of several awards, including the Armour Painting Award for Distinguished Landscape Painting (2008) and the Alexander Graham Munro Travel Award (2003). Her work is held in significant public, corporate, and private collections throughout the UK and internationally.

Ray Pattie writes:

Nature is my quiet place, where I feel most grounded. Growing up surrounded by forests and woodland, I developed an early and lasting connection to the natural world from my childhood. 

I am drawn to the delicate beauty of natural forms. I am currently exploring birds as part of this wider study, observing their presence in our everyday lives. These detailed studies feel like the beginning of a deeper conversation with the natural world, and a way of slowly building my own visual language and interpretation of nature. 

I studied at Edinburgh College of Art, an experience that shaped both my practice and perspective. I remain grateful for the time there, and for the talented and generous people I had the privilege to learn alongside.

Jayne Stokes writes:

I am fundamentally a landscape artist, driven by a desire to explore and record our continually shifting relationship with the environment we inhabit. The places I visit are not simply backdrops; they are active participants in the work, holding stories of change, use, neglect and renewal.

My practice is rooted in observation, walking, gathering and revisiting, allowing time for a deeper understanding of place to emerge. Sustainability sits at the heart of my work, both conceptually and materially. I rarely use virgin materials. Instead, I work with what has already lived a life, objects that have been discarded, altered by weather, or left behind through human activity. These materials are remade, recycled or repurposed, becoming integral to the work rather than incidental. Their previous histories matter as much as the images and narratives they help to form.

The Art and Design Library is located within Central Library. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm and Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

Phone us on 0131 242 8040 or email central.artanddesign.library@edinburgh.gov.uk

Are you interested in exhibiting in the Art and Design Library? Email or drop in to pick up an application form.

These titles and of course, many more, are available to browse from our library catalogue. See something you like? Simply click to reserve and request to pick it up from your local library!

If I ruled the world by Amy DuBois Barnett – romance
Nikki Rose is sick of her boss dismissing her as the only Black editor at a prestigious fashion magazine. So one day, she quits and takes over the new, underperforming hip-hop and lifestyle magazine, Sugar. Nikki has six months to turn Sugar around and to save her dream of being a successful editor. But is it truly what she wants?

138 Main street by Gavin Bell – thriller
The FBI are stumped. Four murders happened in four weeks, and the one thing that links them is that all the victims lived at 138 Main Street. With over seven thousand ‘Main Streets’ across the US, special Agent Ben Walker and rookie officer Zoe Hill don’t know where he will strike next. Until the murderer releases his manifesto and threatens to turn every town in America into a killing ground.

My girlfriend is not the father by Dana Hawkins – romance
Lucy Green is on the cusp of being the surrogate for her best friend and fulfilling a decade long pact. Jade Hudson, recently divorced is trying to rebuild her life by pouring all her energy and passion into her new salon. When sparks fly between Lucy and Jade, the timing couldn’t be worse as both are on the verge of massive life transformation. A cosy, friends to lovers romance.

Daughter of crows by Mark Lawrence – fantasy
Every year 100 girls attend The Academy of Kindness, where they learn to become agents of retribution known as the kindly ones. If they survive the decade-long training, they will wield so much power that even the Gods are hesitant to stand up to them. But each year, only 3 girls ever make it out alive. You must be desperate to sell your child to The Academy, but Rue sold herself. When war erupts across the empire, will Rue ever find peace again?

The Ship’s Cat by Alex Howard – general fiction
The Odyssey but told through cats. Street-savvy Archie is a stray used to prowling the streets of London, so when he find shelter on board a ship that is bound for Turkey, he gets more than he bargains for. On his Odyssey around the world, Archie becomes famous among sailors who believe he brings good fortune to any vessel.

Sakina Kiss by Vivek Shanbhag – general fiction
A middle-class couple living in Bengaluru are alarmed when two young men come to their door claiming to have business with their daughter, Rekha. Fearing for their daughter’s safety, Venkat is riddled with guilt as he is prompted to remember events from his own past that ended in a bitter betrayal. As the tale progresses, cracks appear in their own marriage and the community is on the brink of breaking down.

Always the bridesmaid by Portia MacIntosh – general fiction
Mia Valentina has it all. She is a successful rom-com author living out a glamorous life in LA. Her sister Belle invites her to be chief bridesmaid at her wedding in England and there is no way Mia would miss it. But she feels like a walking disaster, Mia’s barely arrived in England before she has cursed the wedding, injured the groom, and flirted with her brother-in-law. With all her rom-com knowledge, can Mia salvage the situation?

45 things to do before you’re 45 by Julia Tuffs – general fiction
Charlie is unhappy with how her life has shaken out. It was supposed to be fabulous – but now she’s perimenopausal, crying at TV adverts, and her husband won’t talk to her about anything other than his latest Ironman challenge. In the hope of rediscovering herself and her spark for life, she writes a list of 45 things to do before she turns 45. Eat an oyster, take up parkour, try stand up comedy… Thus begins her chaotic midlife crisis…  

Mrs Shim is a killer by Jiyoung Kang – thriller
Recently widowed, Mrs Shim is struggling to keep food on the table for her family. Desperate, she answers an ad for the Smile Detective Agency. She unlocks a long dormant part of herself; by day she makes kimchi for her family and by night she is hired to kill. And slowly what started as a means to end, becomes a passionate thirst for revenge. She is done letting people walked all over her.

Find your next favourite read, whether in print, ebook or audiobook, via the library catalogue.

The photographs in the booklet were taken by Aberdeen-born photographer Francis Caird Inglis who spent most of his life here in Edinburgh. Francis was the son of Alexander Adam Inglis, also a photographer, and both were based for many years at Rock House on Calton Hill. Rock House has been home to several illustrious photographer occupants including Robert Adamson and David Octavius Hill, Archibald Burns, John and Thomas Annan, and Paul Shillabeer.

Francis Caird Inglis was actively involved with the Edinburgh Photographic Society and was also Royal Warrant Photographer to King George V from 1912 to 1916 and from 1920 to 1935.

The images inside feature an Edinburgh which can mostly still be recognised if you were to stand where Inglis himself stood all those years ago.

Francis Caird Inglis continued photographing the streets and buildings of Edinburgh until he died in 1940 aged 60.

To view all the ‘camera pictures’ from this guide, visit Capital Collections and browse the full Dear Auld Reekie exhibition.

This post lets you know about our online reading services that can help make accessing books easier for those with vision challenges.

Audiobooks
Edinburgh Libraries has three downloadable audiobook services giving access to over 8,000 book titles! Between them Libby, BorrowBox and uLibrary provide a wide range of authors and genres. Audiobooks make it possible for readers to continue to enjoy books even when they are unable to read text.

Libby eBooks
Libby has several accessibility options to help make reading text easier. Open an ebook in Libby and tap the large letter A at the top of the screen to change –
Text size
Turn on “Include accessibility sizes” button and then pull the slider to the right on the Text Scale to make the font bigger.

Page colour (lighting)
You can choose the colour of the book pages to suit your eyesight – Bright (white); Sepia; Dark (black pages with white writing).

Book design (font)
You can change the font to one that suits you best.
Note: Some books, like picture books and graphic novels, don’t offer all these settings.

Using screen readers
Libby and BorrowBox work with VoiceOver, Android TalkBack, and desktop screen readers (like NVDA and JAWS) to browse and borrow titles from your library and listen to audiobooks. You can use them on Libby to read ebooks out loud, if the title isn’t available in audiobook format.

PressReader
PressReader provides access to over 7,000 worldwide magazines and newspapers. You can increase the size of the font and have all articles read out loud by using its Listen function. You can also use their Accessibility Mode in conjunction with screen readers to navigate the web-version of the site.

Please get in touch with informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk if you’d like more information about using these functions.

Did you know that you can search through dozens of government, National Lottery, charitable trust and other funds via the Edinburgh4Community funding website? This resource is free to use and also provides all the forms and information about how to apply for the grants. You can save your searches and be emailed every time there’s a new fund suitable for you so no need to keep searching the database – it does the hard work for you!

You’ll need to create an account, but it’s quick and free to sign up and use! To find out how to get started, take a look at our handy How to Use Edinburgh4Community guide.

Contact informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk if you have an queries regarding this service or if you’d like an advertising poster for Edinburgh4Community send out to you.

(NB. Edinburgh4Community is only for use by locally based, small community, voluntary or charitable organisations or small/medium sized business enterprises with a turnover under £1 Million per year).

The fantastic Story Walk was written and illustrated by young people from Drumbrae Library’s Junior Creative Writing and Chatterbooks groups. ‘Pages’ of the story have been placed throughout Clermiston Park for participants to find via a map.

Parents and guardians can visit the library to collect the Story Walk map then take their children on a quest through the park. Families are encouraged to walk, read and interact together, talking about the story and enjoying being outdoors before moving on to find the next page. Once the Story Walk is completed and children return to the library, they receive a certificate.

The Story Walk is available until Saturday 23 May 2026. Pop along to Drumbrae Library if you’d like to take part!

Bookbug Week is all about celebrating songs, nursery rhymes and stories.

Maybe you’ll discover a new favourite song, rhyme or story… Or maybe a magical adventure to a Bookbug session! Bookbug invites little ones to use their imaginations and celebrate their adventures this Bookbug Week.

If you’re new to Bookbug, welcome to the Bookbug community! Come and join in free Bookbug sessions with your little one at your local library. Find a Bookbug session near you at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/bookbug

Across Edinburgh Libraries, there’s a lot happening this week, including special Bookbug Week displays, scavenger hunts, themed sessions, early years visits and competitions.

And during Bookbug Week there are four limited edition postcards to collect which fit together to make a map!

Paper Trails is the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s ambitious, multi-year project, working in partnership with Edinburgh Libraries and the Streetreads Library to spread the power of books and stories.

There’s a series of fantastic events to choose from –

EIBF Paper Trails x Ratho Library: Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venitozzi – How we remember
Join campaigners and hosts of the Witches of Scotland podcast, human rights lawyer Claire Mitchell and novelist Zoe Venditozzi, as they uncover one of the murkiest chapters in Scottish history – the killings of 4,000 women (and men) accused of witchcraft. 
Mitchell and Venditozzi join Victoria Murray for a lively discussion delving into the nature of memorials, their evident omission of woman, and how our ways of remembering history can exist beyond the metal of statues. These topics –and many more – are explored through their sinisterly humorous book:  How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy.
Monday 18 May at 6pm
Book your free ticket for the Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venitozzi event online.

Tormain Research Talk (- additional event as part of the local history week)
Join us for a talk on the Tormain Woods project, where ongoing research has uncovered evidence spanning from the Mesolithic to the Early Medieval period. The project is a community archaeology initiative investigating the prehistoric landscape of Tormain Hill, a Ratho heritage site in danger of being lost, both physically and in memory.
Tuesday 19 May at 3pm
Book your free ticket for the Tormain Research Talk online.

EIBF Paper Trails x Ratho Library: Mary Paulson-Ellis - A journey through time
In her third novel exploring Edinburgh’s rich and mysterious history, author and writer-in-residence at Edinburgh University, Mary Paulson-Ellis, brings readers Emily Nobles Disgrace - the fictional tale of trauma cleaner Essie Pound and policewoman Emily Noble, and their journey as they uncover remnants of a twisted and gruesome past. 
Join Paulson-Ellis and local Ratho writer Charlie Roy, for a captivating event discussing the value and magic of depicting historical periods through an imaginative lens.  
Wednesday 20 May at 6pm
Book your free ticket for Mary Paulson-Ellis event online.

EIBF Paper Trails x Ratho Library: Elle McNicoll – Caring about the past
Change historical narratives with author Elle McNicoll as she delves into the Scotland’s history of the witch trials and the victims of this dark era. In her 2021 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-winning novel, A Kind of Spark, 11-year-old protagonist Addie, campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her hometown. 
Join Elle for an inspiring event on empowerment and making your voice heard in your community!  
Saturday 23 May at 11am
Book your free ticket for Elle McNicoll event online.

EIBF Paper Trails x Ratho Library: Alistair Moffat – History all around us 
Prolific social historian and Edinburgh favourite, Alistair Moffat, joins us at Ratho Library to discuss The Secret History of Here: A Year in the Valley. In this journal-style novel, set in the heart of the Scottish Borders, Moffat explores the history of the place that surrounds his home, but through his insights, invites all to witness the rich history that encompasses us all.   
Saturday 23 May at 3pm
Book your free ticket for Alistair Moffat event online.

We hope to see you there!