"Drawing is the artist's most direct and spontaneous expression, a species of writing: it reveals, better than does painting, his true personality." - Edgar Degas It is often said sketchbooks are the eye into the true souls of artists. Join Helen Bellany for an exclusive exploration of the sketchbooks of John Bellany giving insight into Bellany's artistic development and practice. Helen Bellany was born in Golspie in Sutherland, in 1943 and studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1961 to 1965. It was there that she met John Bellany. They married in September 1964, divorced in 1979, before remarrying in 1986. They have three children; Jonathan, Paul and Anya. She is the author of The Restless Wave: My Two Lives with John Bellany published in 2018 by Sandstone Press.

Join Jenny, Nico and Vicky from our Curatorial & Engagement team as they look back at a year of behind-the-scenes work at the Museum Collections Centre. From exhibition preparation to conservation, workshops to object transportation, get a rare glimpse into the work that happens outside of our exhibition spaces and venues. This will be a panel presentation packed with images of objects and work in progress, and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion as we review the end of 2024 and 2025 together.

Join us for a free described tour of our summer exhibition ‘Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000’. The post-war era was a period of seismic shifts – political and social, scientific and cultural. Emerging from the events of the Second World War, communities lived with the legacies of conflict while looking ahead to the future. Contemporary artists responded to these changing times, addressing both traditional and modern themes in their work as they pushed the boundaries of creativity. By the end of the century, the artistic landscape was entirely transformed. Scheduled to complement John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture, this survey exhibition examines the wider context of post-war Scottish art. Charting the years between the late 1940s and late 1990s, it showcases evolving approaches to figurative and landscape subjects, the growth of abstraction and pop art, and the development of new media. Out of Chaos presents a range of artworks from the City Art Centre’s permanent collection, featuring key pieces by William Johnstone, Joan Eardley, Eduardo Paolozzi, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Elizabeth Blackadder and Maud Sulter.

10.30am - 3.30pm Imagining the sea air around us we will create landscape images inspired by the work of Joan Eardley and other post-war artists in the exhibition ‘Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000’. Choose either to create a work on canvas or paper and incorporate deep, textured brushstrokes in acrylic. All materials provided and lots of support and ideas from Artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb.

To complement our art exhibition exploring post-war art join our archival lecture to look at social and historical aspects of the City during this period. Using archive material which documents aspects of Edinburgh during the 1940s & 50s, we'll have a look at life in the city as it recovered in aftermath of World War Two. In these years much new housing was needed for the growing population, as were schools. Rationing remained for some time but there was growing hope, as the capital began to boom. Jackie Sangster is a Learning Manager at Historic Environment Scotland who works with archival records.

11am - 12pm Join photographer Carla van de Puttelaar in the exhibition Facing the Law: Portraits Past & Present and hear her talk about her works, how they interact with each other and with the historical portraits on display.

2pm - 3pm Join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb for a described tour specifically designed for visually impaired visitors focusing on the exhibition Carla van de Puttelaar; Facing the Law: Portraits Past & Present. This tour has full disabled access.

11am - 12pm Join photographer Carla van de Puttelaar in the exhibition Facing the Law: Portraits Past & Present and hear her talk about her works, how they interact with each other and with the historical portraits on display.

2pm - 3.30pm In this lecture artist Carla van de Puttelaar will talk about her practice as a photographer, explain her approach, outline her experience, and share her sources of inspiration.

2pm - 3.30pm In this lecture art historian and photographer Carla van de Puttelaar will talk about her research interest in 17th and 18th century Dutch and Scottish portraiture and how this influences her practice as a contemporary photographer.

2pm - 3.30pm Artist Carla van de Puttelaar will chair a discussion with some of the women working in the law photographed by her for the show Facing the Law: Portraits Past & Present. This is a unique opportunity to hear these women tell their stories, share their experiences and discuss the opportunities and barriers they face in their profession. To coincide with International Women’s Day.

10.30am - 3.30pm Inspired by the fascinating and atmospheric portraits in the exhibition Carla van de Puttelaar; Facing the Law: Portraits Past & Present, join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb for a day of paper silhouette cutting and collage. We will create a modern version of the 18th century silhouette layered with personal meanings and details. With artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb.

10.30am - 3.30pm Inspired by the beautiful lighting effects in the photographs in the Carla van de Puttelaar; Facing the Law: Portraits Past & Present exhibition, we will explore the use of soft pastels to create portraits that appear out of the darkness into light. We will blend pastel tones onto dark papers and create subtle blended effects and add details to add interest and character. With artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb.

This major exhibition by Glasgow-born artist Michael Fullerton will feature a new body of paintings, as well as a survey of screen-prints and works selected from the City Art Centre Collections. More details to be announced.

Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm Where: Ground Floor, City Art Centre Facilitated by: Ella and Karla Artists in the mid-20th century were trained in the classical tradition; however, the explosion of abstract expressionism in the Post-War period caused a chain reaction that led to many modern artists embracing emotion and abstraction over classical realism. In this workshop, we will reimagine classical Scottish artworks simulating the techniques and style of the artists prominent in the post-war period. You will use pastels to create messy imperfect artwork that will reflect the emotions and themes visible in classical Scottish art. This family friendly workshop is open to all. It is a FREE drop-in workshop. Please note: As a drop-in activity you cannot pre-book this event. Attendance at the workshop is on a first come first served basis; you may be asked to come back at a later time during the day if the workshop is at full capacity. City Art Centre reserves the right to cancel or reschedule this event.

Portraiture is an age-old artform with a seemingly simple purpose: to record the likeness of a human subject. Yet the enduring appeal of portraiture lies in its complexity. Behind every portrait is a series of stories – interwoven narratives about the sitter, the artist, and the circumstances that brought them together. Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture examines this genre in depth, with a selection of highlights from the City Art Centre’s permanent collection. Featuring examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography, the exhibition spans almost 400 years of artistic production, from historic portraits by George Jamesone to contemporary works by Sekai Machache. Unmasked shares new research findings from the collection and reveals several recent acquisitions, on display for the first time.