Graeme Skinner

Box 5 – writing slope

Graeme Skinner — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:37:27 +0000

This one took a while as I could only work in short bursts. Made out of Sycamore (apart from the pen tray insert and tenon pegs which are walnut wood). There’s a 1946 farthing set into the lid, as this is a 80th birthday gift the pen was also turned from the same Sycamore.

Well it’s been a while

Graeme Skinner — Sun, 31 May 2026 14:27:38 +0000

I’ve not painted in far too long, it hurts to paint which is rather annoying when I enjoy the time with a paintbrush as it’s a good opportunity to switch off the brain anyway I decided to try and paint something a week or so ago, luckily I could manage a few minutes at a time before the niggling pains stopped play. As it’s been a while since I painted anything I wanted to go back to basics and grabbed a 25x18cm piece of paper, some cobalt blue and raw umber watercolour, and some white gouache for a painting of the sea at Silloth, Cumbria.

A drift of balloons

Graeme Skinner — Sat, 30 May 2026 12:50:21 +0000

I was pottering in the garden early this morning when I noticed a nice drift of hot air balloons in the distance, so I grabbed the camera

From the Galloway Hoard

Graeme Skinner — Sat, 23 May 2026 09:07:06 +0000

During our day out yesterday we noticed a sign for a Viking treasure that was on display in Kirkcudbright, so we popped in to have a look, it was very impressive work (given that it was buried in 900AD).

Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Graeme Skinner — Sun, 10 May 2026 11:33:27 +0000

In search of bluebells….

Quick trip out to wander amongst some bluebells, some of the woodland was private so we looked from afar

Moonshot

Graeme Skinner — Mon, 04 May 2026 11:41:37 +0000

Well, more precisely one small step…

This is a small step to be used in the kitchen to reach those higher shelves, made as a housewarming gift for a friend. It’s made from oak (with the exception of two small walnut pegs), the joints are all hand cut as I wanted to try and see if I could do them all without assistance the text on top was engraved on the laser. I decided to add some rubber feet to stop it sliding around.

Dimensions are 36cm wide, 16cm deep, and 21cm high.

Packhorse Bridge

Graeme Skinner — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:53:05 +0000

I took a photo of this bridge (the packhorse bridge in Ivegill) to use in a painting, but while I pondered the painting I thought it would work as a pen and ink drawing. Given my hand issues (inner expletive), this has taken far too many weeks to complete.

Packhorse Bridge, Ivegill, A4 Pen & Ink

Box #4 – Hugo

Graeme Skinner — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:02:42 +0000

I didn’t think a month after making a box for Kai’s ashes I would be making one for our Hugo’s ashes, I’m calling this his temporary ashes box as I struggled making this one – dodgy arm meant I had to do a lot of it left handed and it was awkward Anyway, the top insert is made from Maple with a footprint inset into out of resin, the sides are made from Oak. The inside of the lid has a laser engraved detail

Stepping up

Graeme Skinner — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:05:39 +0000

A little step to help folk onto a massage table, the top is Elm and the legs Oak, logo was engraved with the laser do da.

From Little to Long Meg

Graeme Skinner — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:18:39 +0000

We’ve searched for Little Meg Stone Circle a couple of times and walked past it without seeing it so the other day we decided it was the time to find it at last. Luckily it was nice weather for a wander and we found it easily (it helps to look up the location before you head out). It’s quite a small group of stones, and the prehistoric rock art was difficult to see, but it was still worth visiting.

We then left Little Meg behind and walked round to St Michael & All Angels Church which I’d not visited before.

We found a hobbit listed there

We then headed off down the footpath and ended up at Long Meg…