“Its a new dawn, it's a new day, its new life for me. And I'm feeling good”.

Nina Simone's lyrics - one of my favourite songs - sums up how I am feeling about my new adventure into the world of blogging. I am hoping that my reflections on things that interest me in life will resonate with some. I hope to spark some conversations. I hope to improve my writing skills. And most of all I hope to have some fun in doing this.

Two completed silver rings. Left hand oxidised domed detail on ring shank, right hand ring with pressed leaf detail

On the bench

After a hectic year of being pulled across the UK for both professional and personal purposes this week I have enjoyed a staycation in Glasgow indulging in one of my hobbies – jewellery making, as part of the Summer Studio at Glasgow School of Art. I am very partial to some ‘wearable art’ and have historically dabbled in basic silversmithing…

Pandemic Predicament

Last week the Scottish Design Awards 2020 was a successful evening for Page\Park with recognition for several of our projects across different categories. I was very proud that two of our cultural projects received accolades at the Scottish Design Awards; our project for Edinburgh Printmakers picked up an award in the Building Re-use category and Leeds Playhouse the Public Building…

Re-purposing

We feel like we are at the end of the beginning. As a relaxation in lockdown feels closer we are turning our sights as to how we can safely emerge from our homes. With every aspect of our lives tipped upside down we now must apply creative lateral thinking to find ways to readjust to a ‘new normal’. In late…

Theatres Trust Conference 19 – Centre Stage

Last week I once again attended the annual Theatres Trust conference, this year on the theme of ‘Centre Stage – Artist and audience at the heart of theatres’. The venue was the wonderful Battersea Arts Centre – a building which did not disappoint when actually experienced. The ambience of the place is quite extraordinary – the layering of history, and…

Search for authenticity

Returning from visit to Venice in 2017 I have been thinking a lot about the dilemma of tourism which is both essential to Venice and also slowly strangling it. Indeed, this is not a problem exclusive to Venice with cities like Prague, Dubrovnik and indeed Edinburgh succumbing to the same issues. Venice is literally a living mausoleum which understandably draws…

Out with 2018!

I have failed to keep my blog Bouncing off Walls up to date and an obvious new year’s resolution is to not be so lapse in 2019. I had previously set myself the task of being more discursive – and whilst my lack of action in my blog suggests otherwise, 2018 turned out to be a very busy year! January…

Look Up – Light Up

Last weekend Page \ Park  spent a really enjoyable 36 hours in Leeds – part study trip and part exploration of a city which a few of us are getting to know quite well through our project work. We couldn’t have timed our expedition better – coinciding with the city’s Light Night Festival which runs over two consecutive evenings in…