Artworks designed by primary children are cast in bronze

Published on 27/06/2012 12:00

THE history and heritage of Granton will be revealed to walkers on Edinburgh Promenade through new bronze artworks designed by city pupils to make the perfect pencil rubbings.

The bronze plaques – designed by children at Pirniehall Primary School – have been unveiled on the Granton stretch of the promenade.

The Rubbings Trail is a council-led pilot scheme that aims to bring more people to the walkway where they can take rubbings of three themed bronze plaques, based on Granton’s history.

The plaques were designed by primary four pupils at Pirniehall Primary School, Jason Bateman, Erinn Tyler and Alexander Trainer, and include a shoal of fish, an oyster catcher, and boats and a seal at Granton Harbour.

It is hoped that more plaques will be added to tempt walkers along the full length of the promenade in future.

Artist Kate Ive, an Edinburgh College of Art graduate who won the British Medal Society’s New Medallist Scheme 2011-12, translated the original designs into bronze.

The pupils researched the work of other artists for inspiration before coming up with their own ideas.

Eight-year-old Jason said: “I think it’s a lovely spot at Granton for the plaques.” Erinn, nine, added that she felt “really happy” to be involved in designing the plaques and thought they looked “excellent”, while Alexander said he was “very proud” to have designed a plaque.

Another primary four pupil, Hollie Speirs, eight, said: “We really enjoyed doing the brass rubbing.” The plaques were installed by the city council yesterday.

Miss Ive, who lives in Marchmont, said: “I think they’re really charming and it was a nice project to be involved in. The plaques are spread out from Granton towards Cramond.”

The 26-year-old, who is based at the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, added: “The plaques are on metal stands that raise them off the wall and put them at a good height to take rubbings from. I put the kids’ names on the plaques in their own handwriting so it looked like they had signed their drawings.”

The Edinburgh Promenade runs for 17km and stretches from Cramond in the west to Joppa in the east. As well as forming part of the Scottish Coastal Path, it is also part of the North Sea Trail.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, convener of the economic development committee, said: “The council is committed to delivering a high quality Promenade between Cramond and Joppa. Over the last five years, in excess of £400,000 has been invested completing the section between Cramond and Granton. The Rubbings Trail is a fantastic addition to this stretch of the Promenade.

“I look forward to many thousands of people each year enjoying this new artwork produced by our talented schoolchildren.”