Over the course leading The Colinton Tunnel project it has been an absolute joy and privilege to meet both, Pat Banks and June Scott.
These two strong, passionate ladies have been rocks of support throughout the project, wives to Eddie & Mike, the key players in The Colinton Tunnel Charity.
Their feature portraits went up in the tunnel today.
Pat is riding a mighty Griffin steed and has somehow managed to overtake the magic train… despite RLS assuring us that was NOT possible.
June has joined the coven of larger witches at the throat of the tunnel.
Throughout the project they both stood beside and behind their men, rocks of support - keeping the faith while the boys played down their tunnel.
Without them we would never have got started, never mind finished.
They joined our host of witches in the tunnel today.
If you visit this weekend please doff your hats to them. #tunnel #colintontunnel #community #witchesofinstagram #griffin #magictrain
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