Scribalstyles

24/09/2026

The final piece is now finished, it contains folio 124r from the book of Kells on the right, I've made the missing crucifixion scene on the left which should have been on 123v in the original and then given the whole thing a calligraffiti makeover, all biblically accurate. All text in latin based on the Book of Kells variant of the Vulgate.

Its on calf skin vellum,(I used a really big calf) the traditional bits are in the traditional pigments, the modern bits in acrylic, spraypaint, markers and airbrush.

This work was supported by Creative Scotland and will soon be on display at locations in the Highlands.

18/09/2026

I've been collaborating with Pictavia Leather and wastedremains jewellery on a book satchel for the Kells Calligraffiti project. I've learned some letaher tooling techniques from Hamish and had a go at engraving wax with Rona, now i'll be adding to the satchel parts they've posted me up.

18/09/2026

a couple of lions from Kells re interpreted as Daniel in the lions den. Part of the border for the final piece of the Kells Calligraffiti project funded by Creative Scotland

18/09/2026

The tearing of the temple veil, a detail of the final peice for the Kells Calligraffiti project supported by Creative Scotland.

08/09/2026

Spot the difference. I messed up the blood spatter but cant rub it out so added in the sponge soaked in vineger to hide the mistake, every theological reference added in to this piece from now on is primarily there to hide mistakes, I wonder how many times this happened in medieval art?

08/09/2026

I've cut out the cross to show the folio beneath (122v in the book of Kells) with the latin EXPUENTES IN EUM (spat on him) running through the middle, refering to the roman soldiers spitting on Christ, the centurion spits his wine out as he witnesses Christ 'giving up the ghost', VOCA MAGNA EMISSIT SPIRITUM written in the border of the piece. This sort of linking of scripture and image with a bit if artistic licence is what the scribe artist of the Book of Kells seems to be doing throughout the manuscript.

07/09/2026

thats the cutting out done, now to put a folio of text behind and then get on with shadows and rays of light.

03/09/2026

because vellum is translucent the text on the reverse side still needs written in as it shows through on the original folio 124r in the Book of Kells. Another folio to be added to the back to be seen through the holes, so this view will never be seen again.

The final piece for the Kells Calligraffiti project supported by Creative Scotland

03/09/2026

The temple from the Book of Kells exploding as the veil is torn, work in progress.

Part of the Kells Calligraffiti project supported by Creative Scotland

25/03/2026

starting work on my research project funded by the Society of Antiquaires Scotland to reconstruct an exact replica of the Tarbat vellum working yard tank.

The experiment could reveal where the unique 9th century relic was made