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Edinburgh Reporter
32 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
ECA Graduate Show 2025 opens on Friday
Edinburgh College of Art will be transformed on Friday into the city's biggest gallery space celebrating the work of more than 550 graduating students. The ECA Graduate Show 2025 offers students the opportunity to display their work to the public, often exploring a range of thought-provoking ideas and cutting-edge techniques. This will be an inspiring and varied showcase with a range of disciplines on show.. The work includes painting and drawing, sculpture and installation, architectural planning and modelling, animation and digital visualisation, musical composition and performance, film, photography, textiles, jewellery and interior design. A screening of Animation and Film & TV students' work and a gig from graduates in Music will feature throughout the run of the Show, which will run from Friday 30 May until Friday 6 June. Kristen Bodensiek – Sculpture PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Professor Juan Cruz, Principal of Edinburgh College of Art, said: 'Our Graduate Show celebrates the incredible creative talent and ingenuity of our graduating students. Visitors can expect to encounter work that is not only visually striking but also intellectually stimulating and innovative. We have a strong history of helping to shape some of the most notable creative talents in the UK and internationally, and this year is no exception.' Fine Art – artist Libby Entwistle has created An Aftermath, A Crime Scene – featuring a fire-breathing dragon sculpture in a multi-part installation that reinterprets the legend of Saint Margaret, a piece that interrogates ideas of 'monstrosity' and the tension between victimhood and agency. Graphic Design – Katie Marsden has used LEGO to create a tool to help people with Down's Syndrome navigate consent. Working with academics who improve sex education for people with learning difficulties, the colourful bricks are used to encourage positive, independent decision-making. Fine Art – Elena Gadd explores the concept of using masks within ceremony, in this instance a funeral, an occasion where mourner's characteristics or emotions might need concealment. Her large sculptural heads can be 'worn' by visitors, who will also experience a specially created soundscape within them. Sculpture – student Kristel Bodensiek was inspired by the effects that rain and waterfalls have on the human psyche and used glass and steel to create a calming curtain using 300 pieces of glass tied together by hand with steel rings. Painting – traditional tattoos and 19th century photography provide some of the inspiration for student Amy Mclean's final showcase. Five delicate oil paintings with subtle brushstrokes reflect on shrinking attention spans and how we construct meaning in a world of constant visual input. Sculpture – student Maria McStay has created large, spindly, other-worldly ceramics, inspired by artist Louise Bourgeois' spiders and the coastal landscapes she grew up in. Intermedia – the lesser-seen, unclean side of life is exposed in student Marni Saunders' uncanny wall-mounted work, featuring dirty dishes in basins and washing machine drums overflowing with sheets. Jewellery and Silversmithing – Rosina Percorelli has created sculptural pieces inspired by brutalist buildings and decaying pylons. Architecture – MA student Ellie Wilkes' design focuses on data centres, reimagining the thermal and mechanical systems used in response to rapidly growing AI technologies. Music – student Laura Hamilton's work was also inspired by AI, exploring the ethical implications of its use in music therapy. Inspired by leading Edinburgh academic Professor Shannon Vallor, Laura wants to ensure technology enhances, rather than compromises, the human-centred therapy. The ECA Graduate Show 2025 will be open Friday 30 May – Friday 6 June, 10.00am – 5.00pm, with late opening until 8.00pm on Thursday 5 June. It is open to all and free to attend. Booking via Eventbrite is encouraged, though not essential: ECA Graduate Show 2025 Tickets. Kristen Bodensiek – Sculpture PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Elena Gadd – Fine Art MA (Hons) PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Katie Marsden – Graphic Design BA (Hons) PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Libby Entwistle PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
33 minutes ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Sheriff Court news – Finance worker admits embezzlement
A finance worker embezzled more than £400,000 to feed his out of control gambling habit while he was employed at an agricultural consultancy firm. David Proudfoot was employed as a bookkeeper with Andersons Northern Ltd when he began transferring huge sums of cash from the accounts of two historic Scots estates into his own. Proudfoot managed to cover up his deceit by producing fake invoices and using bogus HMRC tax references while working with the company between 2012 and 2022. Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the 48-year-old had spent 'the overwhelming majority' of the stolen cash to fund his gambling habit with online sites including Betfair and Bet 365. Proudfoot pleaded guilty to embezzling £439,500 while employed with Andersons Northern Ltd, Station Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, when appeared at the capital court on Tuesday. (CORR) Andersons Northern Ltd provides services to farming and non-farming businesses including financial planning, farm business administration and IT and software design. Prosecutor Ruaridh Allison told the court the agricultural firm has around 150 clients including the Bemesyde Estate in the Scottish Borders and the Auchlyne Estate in Perthshire. Mr Allison said the Bemesyde Estate was owned by Earl Haig of Bemesyde but was largely run by his wife Lady Jane Haig while the Auchlyne Estate was owned by sole trader Emma Paterson. The court was told Proudfoot, of Penicuik, Midlothian, had responsibilities for 'managing tax affairs and VAT returns for some of the client estates' and the scam was uncovered in 2022. The fiscal depute said: 'The offence came to light in August 2022 when the accountants of the Bemesyde Estate identified a VAT anomaly dating back to November 2021. 'The anomaly was £20,000 which was sufficient for an internal investigation to be met.' Mr Allison said the accountancy firm contacted Andersons Northern Ltd and Proudfoot said he would investigate the anomaly but had subsequently 'failed to do so'. A director of Andersons Northern then conducted his own investigation into the situation and discovered financial transactions were being paid into Proudfoot's personal bank account. A larger review of all the accounts being managed by the bookkeeper was conducted and further payments from both estates were discovered and the police were contacted. Mr Allison said a police investigation found 'over 200 payments disguised as payments for invoices' totalling £108,922.45 were made from the Bemesyde Estate account to Proudfoot between May 2012 and July 2022. The court heard the missing funds went unnoticed as estate bosses had previously allowed Proudfoot to buy products on their behalf and he would be later reimbursed. The fiscal said further payments amounting to more than £115,000 had also been made into Proudfoot's account under the reference of HMRC as he handled payments for two estate employees. The police investigation uncovered a similar scam involving the Auchlyne Estate where Proudfoot had managed to embezzle more than £200,000 between 2014 and 2022. Mr Allison said: 'Tax was being legitimately paid to HMRC by the accused but additional payments had been set and disguised as legitimate payments. 'The police then reviewed the accused's own bank statements in an effort to see where the money had been spent and the overwhelming majority appears to have been spent on gambling. 'They identified the accused has accounts with both Bet 365 and Betfair and payments made to those accounts totals hundreds of thousands of pounds.' Proudfoot was arrested in June 2023 and was said to have given officers 'a full, frank and detailed account of his embezzlement' and had explained the methods he had used to take the money. Sheriff Julius Komorowski granted Proudfoot bail and deferred sentence for the preparation of social work reports to next month. David Proudfoot outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court PHOTO Alexander Lawrie Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hibs announce retained list of players ahead of 2025/26 season
Hibs have announced its retained list of players ahead of the 2025/26 season. The Club remains in contract discussions with both Rocky Bushiri and Junior Hoilett, with their deals expiring this summer. Dwight Gayle, Max Boruc, and Nohan Kenneh will depart the Club this month. Gayle, who announced his retirement from professional football earlier this season, made 29 appearances for Hibs and contributed to 10 goals, scoring six and setting up four. This summer calls the end of the 35-year-old's playing career, which saw him make over 400 appearances, win a number of accolades, and compete in the English Premier League. 22-year-old 'keeper Max Boruc also leaves Hibs, ending his two-year spell with the Club. He made three appearances for the Hibees, competing in the Scottish Premiership and the UEFA Europa Conference League. Nohan Kenneh will also depart. He made 19 appearances during his three-year stay at Hibs, spending the latter end of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Ross County. Loanees Josef Bursik, Hyeokkyu Kwon, Mykola Kuharevich, and Nectar Triantis all return to their parent clubs. The Club are also in discussions with young goalkeeper Freddie Owens regarding a new deal. Four Academy players will also depart this summer; Reuben McAllister, Murray Aiken, Kyle McClelland and Malik Zaid. The Club thanked all departing players for their hard work and contribution, and wished them all the best for the future. First Team players under contract in 2025/26 : Jordan Smith, Murray Johnson, Lewis Miller, Marvin Ekpiteta, Warren O'Hora, Chris Cadden, Jack Iredale, Jordan Obita, Kanayo Megwa, Dylan Levitt, Alasana Manneh, Joe Newell, Nicky Cadden, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Allan Delferrière, Jair Tavares, Josh Campbell, Rudi Molotnikov, Elie Youan, Dylan Vente, Martin Boyle and Kieron Bowie Academy players under contract in 2025/26 : Ryan Mallon, Joseph McGrath, Rory Whittaker, Lewis Gillie, Owen Calder, Oscar MacIntyre, Zach Bruce, Josh McDonald, Adam Buckley, Jamie McMurdo, Luke Davidson, Jacob MacIntyre, Dean Cleland Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
East Lothian cemetery house plans ‘inappropriate'
A bid to build two new homes in a former 'cottage garden' on the edge of a rural cemetery have been rejected as 'inappropriate'. BJP Properties Ltd applied for permission to clear the garden area which they said had been left unused for over 20 years and was full of 'self seeding' trees and ornamental Leylandii. However East Lothian planners refused the proposal for land next to Thurston Cemetery near Innerwick saying it was against their policy to allow new housing in the countryside. And councillors today agreed saying the land in question was 'established woodland' and the development would be out of place so close to the graveyard. Local Councillor Donna Collins, who chaired a meeting of the council's Local Review Body, which heard an appeal against the decision, said she had researched the land and some trees on it dated back up to 200 years. She told the meeting: 'This has been an established woodland stretching back 200 years. Any garden this has been has been a small allotment. It has not been developed into a huge garden that was kept.' The applicants had said the garden was bought along with nearby Primrose Cottage, on the opposite side of the road in 2000 but tenants in the house had not maintained it as a cottage garden and it had been left unused. In their application they said: 'All trees and shrubs currently on-site are either self-seeded or unpruned ornamentals, such as Leylandii, as a result of garden having not been utilised for over 20 years by tenants. 'The site will necessarily be cleared to facilitate the beneficial erection of rural homes.' Planning officers rejected the proposed housing saying it went against their policy not to allow new builds in the countryside without meeting any exemptions, would lead to increased traffic and lead to a loss of woodland. Councillor Andy Forrest told the Local Review Body that after visiting the site it was clear it was part of the woodland saying: 'The issue for me is the loss of woodland which provides a good trail for animals to make their way across the area.' And Councillor John McMillan agreed adding he found the proximity of the new houses to Thurston Cemetery, which lies on the edge of the site. He said: 'It is a beautiful site and I have sympathy with people who want to live in our beautiful county but this is about what is countryside and appropriate development. 'Having a house there, next to East Lodge and the cemetery would be inappropriate. It would be incongruous beside the village cemetery.' The review body unanimously refused the appeal. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
15 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Haddington shop owners unite to fight parking charge plans
Shop owners have warned council plans to restrict free parking in their town centre to just 30 minutes will 'kill' the local high street. East Lothian Council has launched the latest in a series of parking consultations'to the market town of Haddington as it looks into expanding parking meters and charges across the county. But while many fear the outcome is already a foregone conclusion, local businesses and their customers are fighting back. Town centre shops have copies of a petition opposing the proposals on their front counters, posters urging support to stop the plans and a public meeting have all been arranged. East Lothian Council insists no decisions have been taken about parking changes in the town, which currently offers 90 minutes free parking in the town centre before drivers have to move. The new proposals include reducing the free parking to 30 minutes with parking meter charges imposed after that and fees being introduced for residents' permits and are the latest in proposed changes to town centres across the county. One of the biggest concerns for Haddington residents is the impact of a retail park on the edge of the town which provides hundreds of free parking spaces. Others say the restricted free parking will stop customers spending time in the high street and destroy the community spirit within its cafes and shops. Vanessa Vanderbelde owns Cafe 24, which is on Market Street in the town centre. She says the prospect of people being able to go to big coffee chains at the retail park, which has a Starbucks and Costa, because they can park for free is a big concern. Pie shop owner Charlie Hutchison outside his new business on Haddington High Street She said: 'The proposed parking charges will have a huge impact on our business. We have customers who come from as far as Newtongrange and Dalkeith who come here to shop and want to stop for a coffee or sandwich. 'There is no parking problem in Haddington town centre, the 90 minutes work and is not a problem. These changes will send customers to the retail park where it is free and the big coffee chains.' Charlie Hutchison opened his new pie and pate shop on Haddington High Street on Saturday after years of selling his products at local markets. He said: 'It is scary to think about what the council is proposing and how it could affect us as a new business. 'We set up the shop to bring us closer to customers, particularly our older customers, who we like to be able to spend some time chatting to and providing some community support. 'Having to rush in and out to do their shopping in just 30 minutes will have a negative impact on them and us. We want to build a community spirit and this will not help.' In long-established shop Gibsons, on Market Street, customers have lined up to sign the petition against parking charges. One who came from the Scottish Borders said: 'I come here and want to visit a few shops and enjoy my visit. Restricting the waiting time will not let me do that.' Another customer said: 'This will kill the high street. If people cannot park, go into a few shops and stop for a coffee and a chat, they will stop coming. It is more than just a 30 minute flying visit.' In the artisan food shop The Foraging Goat, on the High Street, there were also concerns about the impact on the town centre. Owner Catherine Taverner said: 'Haddington High Street has a range of diverse and independent shops which attract customers who want to have a browse and spending a bit of time visiting. 'This 30 minute restriction will make it harder to do and less appealing. When people are coming and may be spending a little extra on specialist shops they don't want to be paying for parking as well. We are all concerned about the impact on our town centre.' Local MSP Craig Hoy has been a vocal objector to the consultations over parking charges he said are overwhelmingly unpopular, and says any proposals for Haddington should be scrapped. He said: 'I am very concerned that East Lothian Council are wasting public time and money on parking proposals for yet another East Lothian Town. 'While the council will undoubtedly claim the move will be a boost to the local economy they are very wrong. Parking charges will push shoppers to retail parks and supermarkets forcing them off the high street. 'The local community council, residents and businesses are all rightly concerned about the move, and I remain opposed to the roll-out of parking charges in any East Lothian towns.' However Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, says the council is listening to local views. He said: 'This is an important opportunity for as many people as possible to have their say on ways of improving the management of parking in Haddington town centre. 'It is the latest in a series of ongoing consultations looking at how we might be able to address challenges associated with parking in many of our town centres. 'While no decisions on measures for Haddington have been taken at this stage, consulting on possible ways forward can help us address the current problems we face with parking together, whilst supporting the local economy and enhancing the environment. 'We know that demand for parking in town centres such as Haddington can be high, particularly during peak periods throughout the week. Our approach here is to work with the local community to explore solutions which increase the availability of parking spaces in Haddington town centre. Doing so can make it easier for people to access local shops and businesses. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
