"We are starting from a place of entanglement" I recently revisted these conversations illustrated at the Sefari Gateway ideas hub in Edinburgh Botanic Gardens in 2023. A session full of gems of wisdom about collaborating towards shared environmental aims in the context of a complex social system.

Bill Knott

It was a huge privilege to create 8 visual notes capturing insights from The Presiding Officers @parliament.scot 25th anniversary regional visits to hear from communities across Scotland last year. They will be up in the public area of the parliament over the summer, do go in and see them!

Last week we were delighted to collaborate with the Ripple on an exhibition at @scotparl.bsky.social titled ‘The Ripple Project: Manifesting the Future of Lochend, Restalrig and Craigentinny’ ✨

UK Illustrators, pls share: The AOI (Association of Illustrators) is conducting a survey on AI and copyright to hopefully fight back against the ridiculous decision by the UK govt to plow ahead regardless. You don't have to be an AOI member to have your say! www.surveymonkey.com/r/ai_consult...

A red moon over Portobello beach last night, and a pink sky this morning. Skies to lift tired eyes. #lookup

Happy #WinterSolstice! The days in the north will get longer from here on in 🥳

Orwell wrote: So long as I remain alive and well I shall continue to feel strongly about prose style, to love the surface of the earth, and to take a pleasure in solid objects and scraps of useless information....

The ‘climate change and mental ill health’ event held in @uofglasgow.bsky.social last week has a fascinating graphic summary by @jennycapondraws.bsky.social. 40 invited delegates made this a brilliant start to abmuch needed national conversation! @drcenz.bsky.social

Googling Stuff: Then v Now.

Reader, I googlied him

'When designed, managed and staffed with intention (libraries) are spaces where people can come together, bridge differences of race, income and belief, and engage with each other and the community. Great piece by @shamike2009.bsky.social

Ice fairy 🏔️❄️🧊✨ #macro #nature #photography

Scribbling and editing today thinking of all the films about writers I've watched and how none of them eat chips

I've been working on a piece from Scotland's community justice organisation Sacro's 2nd conference. This is from their first in 2022, when poet / DJ Byron Vincent talked powerfully about the impact of growing up as a neurodivergent kid in poverty. Stories matter. Link to his podcasts in alt text.

Today’s poem is called ‘How to Avoid Mixing Your Metaphors’.

Happy saturday #caturday

I read this weeks ago and can't get it out of my head. A must-read (& share) for anyone serious about systems change. "Complexity approaches generally begin with the assumption that it is not possible to direct a living system along a linear pathway no matter how desirable the potential outcomes."

Icy bright 🩵❄️🌅

You distract them, I'll get the chips.

We need to join up the dots. I'd like to use my skills. I'd like to do more here. We all want to do our bit to save the planet. The thoughts from participants in the Gallant project - a community based collaborative environmental science project in Glasgow. Link to research in alt text.

As Edinburgh shivers under a blanket of sleet and snow, and entirely fails to cope with this well forecasted, seasonal weather event, here's a chilly view of "Holyrood in the Snow" by William Wilson from 1935 from the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Etymology of the day: to be ‘blowing a hoolie’ (or ‘hooley’) was probably inspired by the Orkney word ‘hoolan’, a howling gale, with a touch of the ‘hooley’ that is a very noisy party thrown in.

So many oystercatchers on the beach at Portobello this morning. One of my favourite birds, I love their calls. I definitely feel like we see more of them here at the moment.

What would a mentally healthy society look like for young people? At an event in 2022 exploring this, the Triumph network asked young people, and this is what they said. Young people are wise. Research here: triumph.sphsu.gla.ac.uk/research/ #graphicrecording

"We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel… is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.” Ursula K. Le Guin .

I also draw birds, with old ordnance survey maps embedded in them. These are somewhat on the back burner at the moment as I am mostly graphic recording. But I take commissions for special birds + special places when I can, so get in touch if you'd like to discuss one.

As a graphic recorder I listen & draw at events, distilling a visual overview of conversations. It's a real privilege to listen in at the events I join. This, about Ocean Connectivity, was created with artist Claire Stringer for The National Oceanography Centre in 2022. Water connects us all🌊🌍

It's a beautiful frost on the beach frozen fingers kind of morning. #portobello #isverycold #butlovely

Hello blue sky🌱