One of the real challenges in the tunnel was the start.
How to transition from the opening of the poem full of fairies and witches and almost instantly into a section that represented the long military involvement in the area within a few meters?
The challenge was to maintain the whimsy and momentum of RLS poem whilst creating a thoughtful
And reverential feeling in the military section.
The solution i came up with was in the field of poppies painted by multiple hands - but also in a new gang of forest animals leading into the poppies and onto a lone piper to bring pathos and music to the scene, and a second train carrying the troops away from Colinton and onward toward their destiny.
As a little extra, hidden in amongst the foliage a fairy pulls a little magic along the tunnel from the start and into the threshold of the poppies.
#poppies #remembrancesunday #remembrance #piper #lonepiper #chrisrutterford #tunnel #artwork #lubilykan
New embellishment scrolls on the sign at the start of the @colintonTunnel - couldn’t resist a photo when I was up there… I once caught a fish it was THIS big!! #chrisrutterford #robertlouisstevenson #fromarailwaycarriage #artwork #tunnel #projects
So, apparently I made the #list of #edinburgh ’s Hot 30 for 2020. Basically the hottest people in the capital.
I’m pictured here with the #dream #team of @lubilykan and Heather Ferguson. It has been confirmed. We are To Edinburgh what Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista were in the 80s.... THAT HOT!!
Lubi is my #partner in #life and is a crucial #force in all my #projects these days, I couldn’t have coped these last few years without #her . She has been a pivotal force in the background throughout the two years it took to deliver this #baby , #helping guarantee the #success of the whole #tunnel project.
She was also hands on during all the four #school residencies we undertook, gently whipping the kids into shape. We are pictured here on the bramble bush at Bonaly Primary.
Heather helped out as #workexperience for that week from Newbattle High school and was a fantastically mature and enthusiastic member of the team. And forced us to mosh on the way to school daily’s liven up the team
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/edinburgh-hot-30-people-who-have-had-greatest-impact-2020-3076055?page=4
Merry Christmas !!
This little fairy is up a tree for the moment but will buzzing into the tunnel in January 2021 #tunnel #artwork #projects #christmas #fairy
The tunnel has more than its fair share of photogenic canine visitors, thought I’d share a few! #dogsofinstagram #colintontunnel #tunnel #streetart #dogvalleyrescuecentre
The bee fairy in @colintontunnelmural @chris_rutterford this one modelled by Gill Binnie #fairy #bee #fairiesofinstagram #artwork #tunnel
#witch #fairy riding a #flyingunicorn #unicorn in the @colintontunnelmural @chris_rutterford @witchesofinsta_ this one modelled by my very own #tornado #lady #indomitable #magical @lubilykan 🧚🏼♀️ #artwork #tunnel #system3
Witch magicking up some bees in @colintontunnelmural @chris_rutterford #bees #witch #biplane #artwork #tunnel
A cute witch from the @colintontunnelmural -looks like she’s sliding down the smoke #witch @chris_rutterford # broomstick #flyingbroomstick #artwork #tunnel #projects #system3
https://youtu.be/o6G5nC8Uins
Fantastic news piece by @stvlauraa from tonight’s news ...#tunnel #adventures
Tunnel supporter @stvlauraa posing next to her fairy in the @colintontunnelmural looking forward to seeing her article tonight on the @stv.news at 6 #tunnel
@chris_rutterford painted a #lonepiper setting the scene for the memorial section of the @colintontunnelmural #royalscotsdragoonguards #royalscots #tunnel #artwork #portrait
@chris_rutterford just made a new Clydesdale and Highland cow for next to @purshone words in the @colintontunnelmural #highlandcow #cattle #clydesdales #clydesalehorse #plaitedmane #tunnel #animals #projects
@chris_rutterford posing next to his doppelgänger the troll on the magical train #tunnel #artwork #adventures #system3
A #troll in the coal wagon on the magical train in @colintontunnelmural painted by @chris_rutterford -a bit of a self portrait...he’s got #billygoatsgruff for company #projects #tunnel #animals
A new witch in @colintontunnelmural painted by @chris_rutterford . She’s the first character racing down the tunnel. A birthday present for the fabulous @willaminabathory #tunnel
Close up of the engine of The magical train in the tunnel -inspired in part by the #dragon episode of #ivortheengine the train driver is from @boroughmuir_rugby -it’s Fran Costello #tunnel #artwork
Brand new mural arrived in @colintontunnelmural yesterday -the magical train...powered by #dragonfire racing #witches and #fairies a really fun new threshold for the mural @chris_rutterford has been locked away for over a month painting this.. thanks to @lubilykan for adding more fun on the train #tunnel #projects
New work to come in the @colintontunnelmural in a few weeks time #highlandcow #clydesdalehorse #clydesdalesofinstagram #chrisrutterford #scottishart #animals #artwork #tunnel #system3
Rona our tunnel dog was pretty relaxed on the job last week #dogsofinstagram #colintontunnel #tunnel #adventures
40meters of clouds painted in the tunnel last week- all the way from the poppy field to the rainbow #skyscape #cloudsofinstagram #tunnel #artwork
We hung the field of poppies in the #colintontunnel last week. This section features the cap badges of all the troops who have served in Colinton Barracks in its history. #poppyfields #tunnel #projects
The second half of the poem complete and on the wall of @colintontunnelmural from a railway carriage by Robert Louis Stevenson. Words by @purshone @peacesigns_ with background and additions by @chris_rutterford #robertlouisstevenson #tunnel
The first half of the poem complete and on the wall of @colintontunnelmural from a railway carriage by Robert Louis Stevenson. Words by @purshone @peacesigns_ with background and additions by @chris_rutterford #robertlouisstevenson #tunnel
Some pretty stencils cut last night by Chris and Lubi for use in the tunnel over the next few days - and a few old favourites brought back to life. #tunnel
And there Is the Green for stringing the daisies - great new section of text by @purshone in the tunnel - blends seemlessly with the kids mural around it😊 #tunnel #
Nice job! #murals #colintontunnelmural #tunnel
The girls hard at work painting the mural #adventures #tunnel
Two days on site painting and we now have a floral arch in the tunnel - looks really pretty ! #flowers @chris_rutterford #chrisrutterford #scottishmurals #tunnel #projects #community