From reinterpreting autism to reimagining single-use products – how one artist is changing perspectives in Edinburgh this summer
Leith’s Image Collective Gallery launches thought-provoking new exhibition ‘From Waste to Wall’ with an opportunity to meet the artist
Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, art has played an important role throughout James Owen Thomas’ life as a means of communication and expression. Now aged 21, the multi award-winning artist views his autism not as a disability, but as a different kind of ability. And it is because of James’ unique ability to change perspectives that his latest exhibition, From Waste to Wall, is sure to attract attention.
Debuting at Edinburgh’s Image Collective Gallery, From Waste to Wall features a range of thought-provoking collages, each one created using unwanted single-use products such as discarded lottery tickets. The artworks are intricately detailed – embodying James’ ethos that something genuinely beautiful can be created from items that others may deem as useless.
Speaking ahead of the exhibition opening, the North Yorkshire artist commented; “By creating collages from thousands of tiny pieces of discarded materials, I aim to make a positive statement about recycling.
“I have been exhibiting my unique style of environmental art since the age of 15 and I’m delighted to be displaying my art for the first time in Scotland this summer.”
The exhibition is being brought to Edinburgh thanks to the Image Collective Gallery owner, Sara Thomson, who first met James when they were both selected by PM Boris Johnson to become a COP26 One Step Greener Ambassador in 2021.
Explaining her appreciation of James’ work, Sara said; “When I saw James’ work displayed at COP26 I was immediately struck by how intricate and beautiful each collage is.
“I was also moved by the powerful message he is putting out there – the idea that we need to change our attitudes, behaviour, perceptions, and perspectives if we’re going to save the planet.”
The From Waste to Wall exhibitionopens to the public on Tuesday 2nd August at The Image Collective Gallery and runs until Friday 30th September. The exhibition is free to view.
James Owen Thomas will be working on a live piece of art at The Image Collective Gallery on Tuesday 2nd August, 10am – 3pm, during which all are welcome to come and meet the artist.
Leith Walk will reopen to two-way traffic between Pilrig Street and London Road from Monday (18 July), marking a key milestone for the Trams to Newhaven project.
The main construction works between Montgomery Street/Annandale Street and Pilrig Street are now complete and fencing will be removed from outside businesses and homes.
The project remains on schedule for completion by spring 2023 and within the £207.3m budget, with all major construction anticipated to be complete by the end of 2022 ahead of a testing and commissioning period.
Progress to date includes:
Almost 3,900 metres of track laid, 84% of the total
Main construction works completed on three out of the eight new tram stops with works progressing well at the Balfour Street, Foot of the Walk and Newhaven stops
Over 4,000 metres of communications ducting installed (87% of the total) serving the tram and future communication requirements in the area
More than 4,000 metres of drainage installed (89% of the total)
Over 60,000 deliveries from the logistic hubs to local businesses
Almost 24,500 itison vouchers sold, generating over £240,000 potential spend in participating businesses on the route.
Over £175,000 spend on open for business campaigns
Main construction works complete on several sections, including Ocean Terminal to Rennie’s Isle and between Tower Street and Constitution Place and Tower Street and Baltic Street
However, the programme for some specific sections of the route has changed due to industry wide challenges with the availability of materials and skilled labour, as well as other issues including complex utility conflicts.
As a result, some stretches are scheduled to take longer than originally planned, including Melrose Drive and outside Ocean Terminal. Full details of the updated programme are available on the Trams to Newhaven website.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “It’s great news that this key section of Leith Walk will soon reopen and will start its transition to becoming a vibrant multi-modal transport corridor.
“Not only does it mark a major milestone for the Trams to Newhaven project but I’m sure it will be most welcome to businesses and residents along this part of the route. I’d like to thank all those living and working nearby for their patience throughout the programme of work.
“As the project nears completion, the progress made so far is clear to see. Once finished, it will be transformative for the area and beyond. As well as delivering a low-carbon, high capacity and clean mode of transport to this densely populated part of Edinburgh, it will create improved public spaces, active travel links and support future growth and development.
“I do of course recognise that changes to the programme, which are down to issues outwith our control, are likely to affect people and we’ll be working hard to share the latest information and will continue to look at ways in which we can mitigate against some of these delays. To ensure residents are kept safe, I have also asked that parking restrictions are robustly enforced along the route.
“I’d like to thank the Trams to Newhaven project team for all their hard work. Despite the pandemic and global logistics problems, the project is on track to welcome its first passengers in spring 2023 and will be delivered within budget.”
Maria Ortega, SFN Project Director on Edinburgh Trams York Place to Newhaven, said:“We continue to make excellent progress on this project on behalf of our client The City of Edinburgh Council and we are delighted to be reopening this key section of Leith Walk to two-way traffic.
“As contractors we are working hard to ensure that continued progress is made throughout the remaining section of works. Despite the challenges of the pandemic and industry wide issues, we are proud of the progress we have made by working successfully alongside our partners, supply chain and client.
“We look forward to this line being operational in spring 2023.”
Steve Jackson, Project Director, Turner & Townsend said: “As a project we have experienced numerous challenges, as well as industry wide issues, however collaborative working has played a key role to ensure that we have remained on track throughout the life cycle of the project.
“As we enter the final phase of construction works to deliver the Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven line, achievements such as this begin to bring the project together in real life and allow people to see the positive transformational impact this system will have for them.
“I would like to thank all project partners for their efforts to date and we look forward to making continued progress across the route.”
As part of the changes, there is no waiting or stopping between Pilrig Street and Annandale Street, though there is designated loading and parking provision on both the east and west side of Leith Walk.
Logistics hubs to support businesses on Albert Street and Montgomery Street with deliveries and dispatches will also remain on this section of Leith Walk.
MEANWHILE, there’s still no sign of the report into the Edinburgh Trams fiasco. Lord Hardie’s inquiry was set up in 2014 to establish why the Edinburgh Tram project incurred massive delays, cost massively more than originally budgeted and through reductions in scope delivered not a network but a single line, significantly less than promised.
Edmond de Rothschild Real Estate Management to Forward Fund First Phase of 110 Build-to-Rent Apartments
Drum Property Group’s ambitious vision for the long-awaited redevelopment of a key site on Leith Walk, Edinburgh, is now to be realised with on-site construction starting in July 2022.
Drum’s proposals for Stead’s Place, near the foot of Leith Walk, were approved by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2021 heralding a major regeneration of the 2.9-acre site and bringing much-needed investment to this important part of the city.
The Stead’s Place site has been earmarked for development by the Council since 2008 and consisted largely of an aged industrial estate and office space, together with a two-storey red sandstone building facing directly on to Leith Walk.
With refurbishment of the red sandstone building nearing completion, Drum has cleared the Stead’s Place site to the rear and, in the first phase of construction, will build 110 high-quality build-to-rent apartments for Edmond de Rothschild Real Estate Investment Management (REIM), who have agreed to forward-fund the development.
The apartments will be completed by spring 2024. The Stead’s Place apartments represent the second Scottish investment for the firm, having forward funded a build-to-rent development of 114 apartments in Finnieston, at Drum’s G3 Square development in December 2021.
Graeme Bone, Group Managing Director of Drum said: “The start of construction of the new apartments represents another significant step forward in the long-awaited regeneration of the Stead’s Place site.
“Once completed, the apartments will be a huge boost to the area and to local businesses, bringing life and access to what has been an inhospitable site, and delivering much-needed homes for local people.”
The Edmond de Rothschild Residential Investment Fund UK, which invests in the private rented sector (PRS) on behalf of European institutional investors, was launched in August 2018 and to date has raised equity commitments of £320m.
Charlie Miller, co-head of residential in the UK and director of residential transactions at Edmond de Rothschild REIM, said: “Stead’s Place is an excellent opportunity to establish the fund’s first development in Edinburgh and second in Scotland.
“We will provide high-quality rental accommodation at affordable levels in line with the strategy for the fund. Edinburgh is the sixth most competitive financial centre in Europe, second in the UK behind London and has six universities, a diverse economy and a thriving tourist market – all contributing to exceptionally strong demand for homes to rent”.
The final phase of construction at Stead’s Place will start at the end of the year, and will comprise of 38 affordable homes, owned and operated by registered social landlord, Hillcrest Homes, completing the attractive landscaped residential scheme linking Leith Walk to Pilrig Park and beyond.
David Milton, Development Manager at Hillcrest Homes said, “Stead’s Place provides the opportunity to deliver 23 new social-rented homes and 15 mid-rented homes, all of which will be allocated to those in housing need.
“The Social Rented homes will deliver a good mix of one, two and three bed apartments and we are particularly pleased to be delivering family sized homes in this location.
“There is a continuing unmet demand for affordable homes across Edinburgh and this development will help meet this demand and provide high quality, energy efficient new homes to those who need them the most.”
The start of construction is the culmination of five years of research, planning and local community engagement by Drum since the company first purchased the site in 2017. For more information about Drum Property Group’s redevelopment of the Stead’s Place site, visit www.steads-place.com
Road Policing officers in Edinburgh can confirm that a 21-year-old man has died following a hit-and-run incident in Leith.
The incident involved a car and a pedestrian, and took place in Easter Road around 2.40am on Sunday, 19 June, 2022.
The pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at the time, but has since passed away. His family have asked for privacy at this time.
A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and further enquiries remain ongoing.
Sergeant Paul Ewing, from the Edinburgh Road Policing team, said: “At this time, our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the deceased.
“We are continuing our enquiries into the incident and would ask anyone who was in the area at the time and may have information to come forward. We’re also particularly keen to speak with two females who were seen near to an ATM at the bottom of Easter Road, around 2.30am.
“If you believe you can assist our enquiries, please call police on 101, quoting incident 0590 of Sunday, 19 June, 2022.”
Almost £26,000 worth of illegal tobacco has been taken off the shelves by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Trading Standards team and Police Scotland.
Operation CeCe is a UK wide operation targeting illicit tobacco, which is either duty evaded, counterfeit or both and the recent operations in the capital resulted in the seizure of almost £26,000 worth of stock. It included 22,600 cigarettes and 10Kg of hand rolling tobacco which in turn represented evaded duty of over £10,600 defrauded from public funds.
Acting upon intelligence received, Officers from the City of Edinburgh Council’s Trading Standards team, in partnership with officers from Police Scotland, attended a number of premises in the Leith Walk area of the city, along with tobacco detection dog Boo.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Scott Arthur, said: “These recoveries are a fantastic result for our Trading Standards team who work hard to identify and tackle unsafe and illegal products. Stopping such products reaching consumers in Edinburgh and beyond is a testament to their proactive strategy and dedication.
“I am, of course, concerned that this market exists within Edinburgh. These products have not had the required duty paid on them, but also do not comply with the plain packaging, warning requirements, and where they are counterfeit, breach Trade Marks legislation. No tobacco product is safe, but the recovered goods may not comply with the requirements designed to ensure that cigarettes are self-extinguishing to prevent domestic fires.
“Illicit and Counterfeit Tobacco evades taxation and often ends up in the hands of young people, and for that reason tackling it is a key part of Edinburgh’s contribution to the Scottish Government aim to achieve a Smoke Free Generation by 2034.
“We are committed to tackling the supply of illicit tobacco, and will work with our partners in Police Scotland and HMRC wherever possible to disrupt its supply. Legitimate retail sale of tobacco is also disadvantaged where illicit supply routes exist, and we would encourage any legitimate business owners to come forward with any information.”
Police are appealing for witnesses after a 30-year-old woman was injured at Ocean Terminal Edinburgh at the weekend.
The incident happened around 5.30pm on Saturday (25 June, 2022) when the woman was struck by a shopping trolley which had been thrown from a higher level of the Red Car Park at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre by a group of youths.
The trolley struck the 30-year-old woman causing minor injury, she did not require hospital treatment but was left extremely shaken by the incident.
Several members of the public came to the aid of the victim and we are asking for them, any other witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to make contact with police on 101 quoting incident number 3433 of Sunday 26 June 2022.
Alternatively, anyone with any information can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a hit and run incident in Edinburgh.
The incident, which involved a car and a pedestrian happened at around 2.40am yesterday (Sunday, 19 June) in Easter Road.
The 21-year old male pedestrian was taken to The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment for serious injuries.
Detective Sergeant Dougal Begg said : “A young man sustained serious injuries as a result of this incident and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and witnessed the collision to come forward.
“I would also appeal to anyone who has any dashcam or mobile phone footage that could assist with our investigation.
“Police can be contacted by calling 101 and quoting incident number 0590 of Sunday, 19 June, 2022.”
Introducing Leith Stories, a project by Leith For Ever, with an aim to build a living, contemporary digital archive of people’s stories and memories of Leith online – a people’s history, accessible to all.
Join Leith for Ever at one of two workshops during Leith Festival, and share your memories of Leith as it has been in your lifetime, and as it is now.
We’re looking for volunteers to tell us their Leith story and help us create a contemporary audio archive of recorded experiences – the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful, that can be shared and built upon over time.
These collected stories will be recorded and shared as audio clips along with a photograph of you on our website or other digital media. We aim to make this archive something that anyone can add their story to over time so that it becomes a growing, accessible documentation of experiences of the people living, working or otherwise visiting or spending time in Leith.
How does it work? How do I participate?
To take part, first book your place on the workshop time and venue of your choice.
We ask our volunteers to think about, and bring along, an object or image that connects you to Leith that you can use as a prompt during the workshop. We will also provide a box of prompt objects if you aren’t able to bring one, so don’t worry if you can’t think of one! We would like to thank The Living Memory Association for the kind loan of their objects. You can find out more about their work by visiting www.livingmemory.org.uk
On the day, please arrive at the venue 10-15 minutes early so we can get you signed in, and consent forms filled out before we start.
Once everyone is signed in we will go through some warm-up exercises as a group and explain how the recording will work.
Then we will ask each participant to share the object they have brought, and chat about what memories or experiences these bring up in conversation. It will be very informal and friendly. During this conversation, we will record the different stories being shared which will become the final, edited, audio recordings for our memory archive.
Following the discussion, each participant will have their photograph taken with their object. This image will be shown on our website or other digital media, alongside the final edited audio clips, and you will be sent a printed copy following the workshops.
We will provide refreshments on the day.
Terms and conditions:
Please be aware that these sessions will be filmed and recorded. We will ask for your consent for this if you choose to participate. We do not plan to share the film at this point in time, only the audio, however please be aware that the film may be used in future (e.g. if we do a documentary of the project in future) or shown to our funders as part of a record of our activity.
We will also be taking a photograph of each participant at the end of the session – A copy of this will be sent to you as a thank you for taking the time to share your stories…
Your contact details and information provided on sign up and consent forms will not be shared publicly, however your name and any information you share that is recorded during the workshop as part of the story-sharing process may be included in the final edit.
What kind of memories / stories are we looking for?
Anything and Everything! This is about sharing the everyday lives of people connected to Leith. ordinary people doing ordinary things – reflecting on life as it was and is for real people.
Here are some examples:
‘I remember we used to drink in the Pond. they had a big fish tank at the back of the room and they would hold BBQ’s out the back sometimes. My friend who lived near there moved away though and we stopped going. It closed during lockdown and new people took over and renamed it The Bullfinch. I’ll need to pop by one day and check it out.’
‘When I moved to Leith in 2011 there was practically no signage on the cycle paths. I kept taking the wrong turn at five ways junction and ending up at Goldenacre, or Lyndsay Road instead of the Water of Leith. It’s much better signed now though, and the path has been upgraded too.’
‘When I was about 12-13 the Ferry Road path didn’t exist. I grew up near trinity, and we used to go down to this green marshy jungle and pretend it was Dagobah from Star Wars. That would have been in the late 80’s. Now I use it to get to work.’
‘I remember that cases (cardboard) of whisky used to be exported via Leith to far off countries no doubt. Stealing bottles would not be an option as open cartons was a tad obvious, so dockers used to drop the cases ‘accidentally’ and then hold a cup at the bottom corner and wait till the whisky worked its way through. The cartons were then sent on their way looking untouched.’
Accessibility
The venue should be fully accessible. If you require someone to accompany you to the workshop to support you or allow you to participate (e.g. a carer/support worker or a translator), you do not need to book a ticket for them. Please contact us to let us know you will have an extra person with you.
Under 16’s
We welcome under 16’s who wish to participate in the workshop, however you must be accompanied by someone over the age of 18. If they will be participating please book a ticket for them, if they will accompany you without participating, please let us know they will be attending with you.
This event has been supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund. This fund is being delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.
Sessions will be held on :
Wednesday 15 June from 6 – 8.30pm at Leith Community Centre, Newkirkgate
Saturday 18 June from 2 – 4.30pm at Leith Dockers Club, Academy Street.
Forth Ports has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to The City of Edinburgh Council for Harbour 31, an exciting mixed-use development on a 10-acre waterfront site at Leith.
The development has the aspiration to create a vibrant new neighbourhood for Leith. The plans for the waterside location include: 700 – 800 residential apartments, a hotel, local retail, flexible workspaces and offices and leisure facilities. The site sits on a dockside location and fits well with the Council’s Local Development Plan as being housing-led, mixed use development.
The development will see the regeneration of land adjacent to the newly opened FirstStage Studios, providing a place to live and work, for both creative and green jobs, as the Port of Leith transitions to become Scotland’s premier renewables hub. The site will also benefit from the new tram extension due to open in mid-2023.
Carole Cran, Chief Financial Officer of landowners Forth Ports Group, said: “At Harbour 31 we plan to create a vibrant new quarter to live and work, as new creative and green jobs come to Leith.
“With the option to walk to work or an easy tram ride into the city centre, this new neighbourhood will be a focal point of Leith’s continued regeneration.”
An online public consultation will take place on 23 June 2022 from 3.00pm – 7.00pm via www.harbour31.com, where further details of the proposed development can be found.
Following the outcome of the public consultation, a full planning application will be submitted.
