Come and see my artwork . . it’s a load of old rubbish

David, who makes trains and railway scenes out of everything from old betting-shop pens to bus tickets and discarded plastic, will exhibit his piece, Ottadale Private Station, along with a collection of photographs at the Re: See It re-use showcase within the Art’s Complex on London Road.

Each week the 70-year-old, who began creating artwork from reused materials when just a boy, shares his skills at Friday morning workshops at the re-use project Remade in Edinburgh.

Misunderstood for most of his life, David was only diagnosed with Asperger’s at the age of 62.

He said: “It was a huge relief to finally be diagnosed, all my life I’ve had people tell me that I didn’t belong.

“Ever since I was a boy I’ve only ever felt peace when I’ve been model making. Most Asperger’s people can be supremely competent at an esoteric subject like physics or music but be totally incompetent at everyday affairs.”

David’s models feature a range of everyday items such as soft drinks cans, power cards and toothpaste tubes and he has been left dismayed at what people throw away. He said: “It really is disgusting the amount of stuff that people throw away. I’m constantly on the lookout for things to use and I’m never left empty-handed.”

Speaking of his upcoming exhibition, David, who lives in Townhill near Dunfermline, added: “I hope that people are so inspired by what they see that they’ll want to have a go.”

Exhibition organiser, Jaimie MacDonald said: “I’m sure the public will love trying to recognise what everyday materials these intriguing pieces have been created from.”

Remade in Edinburgh is a community-led initiative to create a reuse and repair centre in Edinburgh. The organisation is the first of its kind in Scotland, housing a series of social enterprises that convert items that would otherwise be thrown away into useful objects.

The Re: See It opening night is tonight from 6.30pm to 10pm and the exhibition runs until Saturday, April 28.

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