Showing posts with label Edinburgh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edinburgh. Show all posts

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Waiting to Exhale: House of Smalls

I'm pleased to share that my etching Haven will feature at House of Smalls' upcoming exhibition, 'Waiting to Exhale', which opens on Saturday 16th of May.

The show will feature artwork by over 80 artists, all of whom have submitted artwork that invokes or reflects on momentary calm, as we negotiate these turbulent and uncertain times.


The exhibition runs from Saturday 16th of May until Saturday 20th of June and is open everyday except Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Further information, including opening times, is available on the poster below.  (Please be aware that the gallery will be closed from Friday 29th May until Wednesday 3rd June inclusive

More information on House of Smalls can be found at www.thehouseofsmalls.com/  


Friday, 13 February 2026

Artists BookMarket 2026 at the Fruitmarket Gallery


Edinburgh's Fruitmarket Gallery will hold their Artists' Bookmarket for another two days of workshops, talks and the opportunity to see and buy work from exhibiting artists. I'll be exhibiting with much of the work seen on this blog, alongside many other artists and small publishers - see below to see the full list of exhibitors and workshops.

Open 10:30 - 1800 on Saturday 14th February and 10:30 - 17:00 Sunday 15th February. 
 
Free entry both days.

More information available at 





Monday, 4 August 2025

Newly illustrated bookmark for Typewronger Books


Earlier this summer, I was asked by Typewronger Books to create two colour illustrations for the shop's new bookmark.  I'd previously designed their bookmark back in 2017, though this had been a black and white double-sided bookmark, so a refresh of the original idea was called for!   
  
The images were to include many of the things familiar to the bookshop itself, such as its plants, the coloured lights outside, one of the shop's many typewriters, some signage and stacks of books.  The front of the bookmark features many of these items found inside the shop while the reverse side is more chaotic, with books, lights, plants, a police box and a riso printer falling through space.

The inclusion of the Leith Walk Police Box on the reverse image is a nod to the shop's early days, as this was the original location of Typewronger Books before moving to Haddington Place.  I kept in as many of the features of the police box as I could, including its artwork, even though it appears quite small on the printed bookmark.  I was also asked to include a riso printer, as the bookshop now has a riso printing studio.

Scroll down for some close ups and some work in progress pictures!  




 
 


Typewronger Books, 4a Haddington Place, Edinburgh


More information on Typewronger Books available at the links below:

Instagram @typewronger 
https://typewronger.com/


Tuesday, 11 February 2025

The Fruitmarket Gallery Presents: Artists' Bookmarket 2025

 


Next weekend, Edinburgh's Fruitmarket Gallery will hold this year's Artists' Bookmarket for another two days of workshops, talks and the opportunity to see and buy work from exhibiting artists.

I'll be exhibiting with much of the work pictured above alongside many other artists and small publishers.

For all information on next weekend's stallholders, talks and workshops please visit https://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/event/artists-bookmarket-2025/


Hopefully see some of you there next weekend!



Friday, 12 July 2024

Tea Green Summer Market at the National Galleries Scotland

I'm pleased to share here that I've been selected to take part in Tea Green's Summer Market at the National Galleries of Scotland next month.  The market will run across three days and will be held at the National.

Dates: Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th August 2024
Times: 10am until 5pm
Location:  The National Galleries of Scotland: National 


I'll be taking part on just the Friday and Saturday, and the market will held in the downstairs area of the National that you enter through Princes Street Gardens on the Mound.

I'll be sharing a bit more about it nearer the time on Instagram - you can find me there at https://www.instagram.com/joannakrobson

See some of you there!

 


Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Summerhall Christmas Market: 2 - 3 December 2023


On Saturday 2nd December, I'll be one of the ninety independent makers taking part in this year's two day Christmas Market at Summerhall in Edinburgh. 

The following day on Sunday 3rd December there will be another set of ninety stallholders, making this year's Christmas market weekend at Summerhall the biggest one that they've done yet.

Doors open from 11am until 5pm on both days.

Entry is £3.00 and under 18s can attend for free.

You'll find me and my stall on Saturday 2nd December from 11-5pm in the Back Courtyard marquee (stall 15) - hope to see some of you there!

More information at https://www.summerhall.co.uk/sh-event/summerhall-christmas-market-2023/2023-12-02/

 

Friday, 10 February 2023

The Fruitmarket Gallery Presents: Artists' Bookmarket 2023

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February 2023
Open 10:00 - 1800 on Saturday and 10:00 - 17:00 Sunday
Free Entry

Next weekend, Edinburgh's Fruitmarket Gallery will hold this year's Artists' Bookmarket for another two days of workshops, talks and the opportunity to see and buy work from exhibiting artists. 

The fair will be open from 10 til 6pm Saturday and 10 til 5pm on Sunday, with free entry on both days.

I'll be exhibiting with much of the work pictured below, alongside many other artists and small publishers.  A full list of the talks and workshops happening over the weekend can be found at https://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/artists-bookmarket/

Hopefully see some of you there next weekend!

Monday, 9 May 2022

Artists' Bookmarket 2022 at the Fruitmarket Gallery


 

The Fruitmarket Gallery Presents: 
Artists' Bookmarket 2022

 
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May 2022
Open 10:00 - 1800 on Saturday and 10:00 - 17:00 Sunday
* Free entry *
 
Next weekend, Edinburgh's Fruitmarket Gallery will hold this year's Artists' Bookmarket for another two days of workshops, talks and the opportunity to see and buy work from exhibiting artists.  Edinburgh’s annual celebration of artists’ book culture is held for the first time in tandem with Edinburgh Zine Library who will be bringing their first Zine Festival to Fruitmarket’s Warehouse space. The event runs over two busy weekend days with stalls laid out to showcase a wide array of work. 

I will be exhibiting with much of the work pictured below, alongside many other participants - for the full list of this year's stallholders visit https://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/event/artists-bookmarket-2022/  A full list of the talks and workshops happening over the weekend can be found below.

Hopefully see some of you there next weekend!
 

 

TALKS AND WORKSHOPS


SATURDAY 14.05.22

11am–12.15pm.
Workshop: Edinburgh Zine Library, Zine Fever: Exploring the History of Zines
Studio. 12 places. Ages 16+. Book via Eventbrite
Focusing on exploring themes in the stories we tell.


11am–1.30pm.
Workshop: Marion Archibald: Introduction to Book-Making
Information Room. 10 places. Ages 14+. £20+BF. Book via Eventbrite
Introduction to basic techniques of book making: folded and cut books, sewn pamphlets and creating a hard cover for a folded book. By the end of the workshop you will have a selection of simple books to take away and templates for future use.


1.30–2.15pm.
Talk: Adam Geary: A Photobook Journey
Studio. Free.
Geary has been publishing photobooks featuring his own work and that of other photographers for over 10 years. With over 35 photobooks under his belt, Geary will take you through his approach to publishing with inspirations for how you might make your own books.


2–3pm.
Workshop: Ciarrai Samson: Letterlocking Workshop
Information Room. 12 places. Adults and 8+. £12+BF. Book via Eventbrite
A brief overview of letterlocking, the historical practice of folding or cutting to secure a letter without an envelope, introduces six different letterlocking techniques, each using a single sheet of paper, with no glue or scissors.


2.45–3.30pm
Talk: C.A. Hiley & Cé Simonis: How We Make Our Work
Studio. Free.
Storytellers and self-publishers, the artists share how they use their riso-machine and printmaking knowledge to create unusual visual narratives that are accessible to a broad public.


3.30–4.30pm.

Workshop: Lucy Roscoe: A Garden in a Book
Information Room. 10 places. Adults. £16+BF. Book via Eventbrite
Create your very own garden using the book form of a compound concertina. Building on a classic pamphlet stitch you will learn some practical bookmaking skills that can easily be done at home, then explore how the complex concertina form can be manipulated to create beautiful results. Along the way we will discuss colour, texture, papers and why we make books.


4–4.45pm
Talk: David Faithfull: (W)ORD Ebbe + Flow Project
Studio. Free.
Faithfull discusses his collaborative project with Norwegian-based artist Imi Maufe. In a travelling exhibition 9 artists have an individual drawer in a specially designed chest, which opens to reveal sculptures, drawings, prints, video and artefacts to fill the space in any sized gallery, ferry, barn or other unusual exhibition space. An artist’s book accompanies the project.



SUNDAY 15.05.22

11am – 12.15pm
Workshop: Edinburgh Zine Library.
Choose Your Own Adventure: (Re)telling Scottish Myths and Legends
Studio. Ages 12+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult).
Book via Eventbrite
Brian from Stout Stoat Press will guide you through making a Choose Your Own Adventure zine – drawing inspiration from classic myths and legends.


10.30am–12pm
Workshop: Elaine Robson: Three Spines
Information Room. 12 places. Adults and 12+. £5+BF. Book via Eventbrite
If a book can be considered a form that collects and conveys information, how does the binder sequence that information and what happens when the reader can change the page order? Three different folded paper structures that need no glue or stitching to hold loose pages, postcards or prints.


12.15–2.15pm
Workshop: Kerry Douglas: Coptic Binding
Information Room. 10 places. Ages 14+. £20+BF. Book via Eventbrite
Learn the intricate technique of ‘Coptic’ binding, also known as the ‘link stitch’ and come away with your own beautifully handbound A6 book that lays open flat and is easy to write or sketch in. Using traditional tools, participants will focus on grain direction of paper, attaching covers and the main focus will be on learning the coptic stitch.


2.15–3pm

Talk: RUHUMAN – Keith Armstrong’s Typewriter Art
Studio. Free.
Barrie Tullett introduces the meticulous typewriter art of artist and disability rights activist Keith Armstrong, celebrated in a new publication from The Caseroom Press.


3.30–4.15pm
Talk: David Henningham: Foulness – a novel in three editions
Studio. Free.
The Henningham Family Press’s innovative split editions divide their print run between paperback and hand-finished editions, so that the same books which find homes in museum collections are also accessible through high street book shops. Publisher David Henningham shares how he applied his experience of presenting the same material across different editions to the publication of his novel Foulness which describes the uncanny island of Foulness in Essex.


3.45–4.45pm.
Workshop: Rachel Ashenden & Molly Gilroy (The Debutante): Surrealist Collage
Information Room. 10 places. All ages. £5+BF. Book via Eventbrite
Unleash your inner child by creating new worlds with fragments of materials. You’ll be given a brief history of surrealist collage, receive collage prompt, and be guided through making your own collage creation.

Monday, 2 March 2020

The Fruitmarket Gallery Presents: Artists' BookMarket 2020

 New location:
Custom Lane, 1 Customs Wharf, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6AL 

 
Next weekend, Edinburgh's Fruitmarket Gallery will hold this year's Artists' BookMarket for another two days of workshops, talks and the opportunity to see and buy work from exhibiting artists.

This year the fair will move location to Custom Lane in Leith, while the Fruitmarket Gallery itself undergoes refurbishment.  The fair will be open from 10 til 5pm both days, with free entry.

I will be exhibiting with much of the work pictured above, alongside nineteen other participants - for the full list of this year's stallholders visit https://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/event/artists-bookmarket-2020/2020-03-07/  There is also a dedicated Facebook page for the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/627801064640631/

Hopefully see some of you there next weekend!



Friday, 5 April 2019

Wedding anniversary lasercut


This was a recent private commission for a first wedding anniversary.  The lasercut had to depict the wedding location - Prestonfield House stables in Edinburgh - as well as moments from the day itself.

Scroll down to see some of the finished images below!







Wednesday, 7 November 2018

The Misadventures of John Nicholson


Over the past couple of months I've been working on a set of illustrations for Typewronger Books for a republication of one of Robert Louis Stevenson's short stories, The Misadventures of John Nicholson.  Set in Victorian Edinburgh, it tells the story of the ill-fated John Nicholson, a son of a well-to-do family in Edinburgh's New Town.  From Typewronger's event page on Facebook: 

This was originally published as part of a collection of Stevenson's work after his death and we think it deserves more notice!  The Misadventures involves embezzlement, a mugging on Calton hill, an illegal drinking establishment, a murder & a comedy cabby... Our edition includes an introduction by Jeremy Hodges and five new illustrations by Joanna Robson.






Out anti-hero is on his own after dark on Edinburgh's Calton Hill, unaware of the immediate dangers...

For more information visit Typewronger Books page at www.typewronger.com or find them on Instagram at instagram.com/typewronger.

And if you find yourself in Edinburgh, then you can always call in at the shop at 4a Haddington Place!  It's at the top of Leith Walk on the right as you walk towards the city centre.

Typewronger Books, Edinburgh


Monday, 6 November 2017

Typewronger Books commission




This was a commission for Typewronger Books, a new bookshop that opened in Edinburgh yesterday and is currently operating out of the police box on Leith Walk (Croall Place).  I was asked to produce two illustrations for a double-sided bookmark, which will also work as a business card for the shop.

Even though I was given barely any time to create the image and the design, I'm happy with the way that it turned out.  Here are a couple of pictures of the finished piece and also a picture from the opening yesterday too -





Typewronger Books is open every Sunday on Leith Walk in Edinburgh from 11 until 6pm!  

For more information on Typewronger Books please visit their website at www.typewronger.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/typewronger

Thursday, 30 June 2016

Work in progress - still!

Only a month left to go before this is all done and dusted!  Here are a few photos of work in progress from this lengthy project, which is so very close to completion....


Some proof prints at Edinburgh Printmakers


Plate burnishing

Laser-cut plan

small study