Up on the Roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

on the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

You can now go up on the roof of the newly done-up Aberdeen Art Gallery. It’s quite nice up there among the green domes of the city. That’s the theatre straight ahead and Union Terrace Gardens (also going through the process of change) to the left.

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, as seen from the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

Arriving on the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

I was relieved to arrive up on the roof during my recent visit. I’d displayed distinctly codger-like tendencies until then. Where were the old marble stairs? Why were there new plastic-covered ones instead? How was that an improvement? And what about the fountain and the thing that used to be in the middle of it?

Works of Art

‘The thing’ was on the roof, and I was glad to see it.

oval form, Aberdeen Art Gallery
Oval Form – Trezion
Dame Barbara Hepworth

There were other old favourites throughout the gallery too, and photography was allowed everywhere.

Penelope, her milkshake bringing all the boys to the yard:

Penelope and the suitors by John William Waterhouse
Penelope and the Suitors
John William Waterhouse

A lit-up love poem:

For You by Tracey Emin, Aberdeen Art Gallery
For You
Tracey Emin

Then there was a buttery, a local delicacy, a sort of salty, fatty squashed roll. Unfortunately, I did not note the name of the artist.

buttery as art

Visit the official website of Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Kirk of St Nicholas

The Kirk of St Nicholas could be seen from the roof of the gallery. I do seem to see it wherever I go in the city.

View from the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

I wandered down to the kirkyard before leaving Aberdeen. The grass had obviously not been cut all season, giving the place an unkempt and uncared-for feel. There was a poppy, though. And that was beautiful.

poppy below the steeple of St Nicholas Kirk in Aberdeen

People accused of witchcraft were imprisoned in the old steeple of that kirk long ago, as mentioned in THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR.

The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair, and a harp

Taking place mainly in a castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.

See the press release here

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From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland 

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24 Replies to “Up on the Roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery”

  1. Wow, Ailish! It looks like a splendid place to visit in a magnificent city, and for an art gallery to allow photography is pretty darn nice, in my opinion. Thanks for sharing.

  2. The Kirk in the “Mermaid and the Bear” was such a prominent visual image clinging to my imagination since reading it. It was so interesting to see your photos of it, so long after the words. And the art gallery was wonderful also.

  3. Hello again Ailish,
    What a fascinating guide to the museum. I shall have to visit the official site. Interesting too the all too real links to your historical fiction. Thank you for sharing.

  4. Lovely to see the backdrop to your book! We are learning NOT to mow down certain green areas here to encourage butterflies, bees and wild flowers to flourish.

    1. We have patches like that, especially at the sides of roads, planted up with wildflowers. I don’t think that’s what’s happening in Aberdeen. The streets were full of litter too 🙁

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