Seeing Glasgow: An Artist’s View with Avril Paton

Avril Paton's painting 'Windows in the West' which is a painting of a West End tenement in the snow.

Thursday 14 March 2024 | 7-8pm | 54 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LQ & Online

*** In person tickets are now fully booked however online remain available! ***

One of Glasgow’s foremost artists, Avril Paton, made the city and its citizens the principle focus of her work. She is best known for her painting ‘Windows in the West’, which is one of Scotland’s favourite paintings. Its evocative scene of a winter’s evening in a tenement on Saltoun Street continues to delight visitors to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

‘The lilac pink sky, the lit windows, the clarity of whiteness where there had been darkness – it was magic.’ – Avril Paton

Join us at our office on Bell Street or online (please select the appropriate ticket option for you below) to hear Avril discuss her life and work, and find out how she captured in paint the historic buildings and places of the Dear Green Place.

Free, donations welcome, booking essential.

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

**Sold Out** Taking Care of Your Tenement: Looking Up and Looking Out

Photograph of a red sandstone building in Glasgow's Merchant City

**Sold Out** Saturday 2nd March 2024 | 11am – 1pm | Meet at 54 Bell Street, G1 1LQ

Concerned about the current state of your tenement? Not quite sure what sort of repair work might need to be done? 

Then join GCHT and Under One Roof for an investigative walk around the Merchant City, looking at the area’s traditional tenements and analysing maintenance and repair issues. 

You’ll have a chance to learn about some of the most common issues historic buildings face, how to tackle repairs and the maintenance work that should be done as we head into spring. 

After the walk, we’ll be having a drop-in event from 12pm – 1pm at GCHT’s office on Bell Street, where you’ll have the opportunity to ask our experts your questions about taking care of a historic tenement. 

Please dress for the unpredictable Glasgow weather and wear comfortable shoes! 

Free, booking essential

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

***SOLD OUT*** Your World in Watercolour: A Workshop with Will Knight

Watercolour pallets sitting on top of a line drawing of Glasgow city centre

Saturday 2 March | 12-3pm | Many Studios, 3 Ross Street, G1 5AR

Create an aerial drawing of your favourite building and its context using the same layered drawing technique that Will used to create the ‘Knight Map of Glasgow’. From interpreting a 2 dimensional map, to forming a 3D massing drawing, to then adding detail with pen and depth with watercolour; this workshop offers the opportunity to record your building from above, as Knight and Sulman have; and in doing so, extend the map beyond it’s current confines; whether the new locations are in Broomhill or Ballieston; Strathbungo or Springburn.

Will studied Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, and this training has informed his approach to understanding the dynamic relationship between people and place. He has spent the last ten years observing, recording and interpreting Glasgow’s built environment – from the celebrated work of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson to the ubiquitous tiled tenement close; from some of the city’s cherished eateries to the scratch bakery and local newsagent. Every subject is explored through measurement and drawn by hand, elevating everyday buildings so that they are revealed afresh.

Lunch and materials supplied. If you can, please bring a phone/laptop/tablet with internet access so you can look at your building/street online.

£60, booking essential.

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Online Event: Taking Care of Your Tenement

photograph of block of red sandstone tenements

Monday 12th February | 6:00 – 7:00 pm | Online via Zoom 

Worried about a leaky roof? Concerned about damp in your flat? Not sure how to talk to your neighbours about joint repairs? 

Join Under One Roof and GCHT for a free and informative online event aimed at owner-occupiers, landlords or anyone who wants to learn more about maintaining and managing their historic tenement flats. 

Topics covered will include tenement maintenance and management, communal repairs and what to consider when undertaking works. There will also be a chance to hear about GCHT’s historic environment grants programme and whether you might be eligible for grant funding. 

We’ll finish with a Q&A session where you can ask us your top tenement questions! 

Free, booking required

 

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

***SOLD OUT*** Talk: Exploring the William Graham Collection at the Mitchell Library

Black and white photograph of William Graham on the banks of the Kelvin.

Thursday 8th Feb 2024 | 6:30-7:30pm | The Mitchell Library (Moir/Dyer Simpson Room) 

William Graham, born in 1845, lived most of his life in the Springburn area of Glasgow. He was employed as a printer with Bell and Bain, going on to work for the North British Railway Company as an engine driver and locomotive fireman.

His life-long hobby was photography so in 1893, when he was suspended following a railway strike, he left his job as an engine driver and took up the full-time profession of photographer, which he continued until his death in 1914.

He was known for his topographical knowledge of Glasgow and was an original member of the Old Glasgow Club.

A collection of his photographs and negatives was acquired in 1916 and is housed in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow.

Clare Thompson, Librarian at The Mitchell Library, will share information about his life and career, and some rare images from the collection.

Free, donations welcome, booking essential.

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Tour: Glasgow Art Club **Sold Out**

A gold door plate that says 'Glasgow Art Club'

Thursday 25th January 2024 | 14:30-16:00 | Glasgow Art Club, 185 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HU

Ever wondered what lies behind the doors of 185 Bath Street?

Steeped in culture and heritage, Glasgow Art Club has long been a private meeting place for generations of the city’s most innovative and creative inhabitants.

Now, we are giving you the chance to see behind the scenes of one of Glasgow’s best kept secrets!

In 1893 two adjacent town houses on Bath Street were transformed by architects Honeyman & Keppie, employing Charles Rennie Mackintosh, into the magnificent Clubhouse which stands today. The Grade A-Listed Clubhouse is resplendent with historically significant interior features – many of which were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh when he was but 25 years old.

Recent extensive refurbishment, with substantial financial aid from The Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland and generous contributions from private donors, has resulted in restoration of the Club’s large Gallery to its original Victorian splendour.

A must-see attraction for all Mackintosh enthusiasts is the recently recreated Mackintosh Frieze. Painted in 1893, the stencilled artwork was Mackintosh’s first major public work and the centrepiece of the club’s Gallery, but due to water damage it was eventually plastered and painted over. A group of nationally recognised experts in the work of Mackintosh, in combination with a notable Scottish artist and a firm specialising in restoration work, have combined to produce the stunning visual experience now on show.

The Club also boasts an impressive collection of fine art paintings, sculpture and prints – much of which has never been on show to the public before. The collection includes work by Robin Hume, David Donaldson, Emilio Coia, Alexander Goudie, Bet Low and Francis Newbury. The Scottish Portrait Awards Exhibition will be on at this time giving you the opportunity to see some of the best portrait artists living and working in Scotland.

The tour will last for 1 hour with time for teas, coffees and biscuits beforehand.

£16 per person, booking essential.

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Ceramic Tile Making Course

A photo of four hexagonal ceramic tiles with a colourful, abstract pattern.

Friday 26th January – Friday 16th February 2024 | 18:30-20:30* | Glasgow Ceramic Studio, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow, G31 2HF

Love tiles? Fancy the chance to create your own?

Tiles are a unique element of Glasgow’s built heritage which have adorned our closes and homes for centuries. 

Glasgow City Heritage Trust have teamed up with Glasgow Ceramic Studio and artist Alison Gray to deliver a practical course to to create your very own set of handmade tiles! The course will take place on a Friday evening for 4 weeks.

Join us for a chance to learn more about ceramic tiles as you experiment with colour, shape and surface treatment.

The cost of the 4 evening sessions is £150 per person. Price includes clay, glaze, plaster and two kiln firings. Space is limited to 10 places, booking essential.

We encourage you to bring along your own designs and materials for inspiration, or alternatively just have fun and experiment as you go!

Alison Gray, Glasgow Ceramic Studio, is a ceramic artist who has been working with clay for over twenty years. She has a long interest in tiles used in homes and Victorian buildings and has created tiles for kitchens and school wall plaques.

Breakdown of each week: 

Week 1: Friday 26th January, 18:30- 20:30 – Introduction and Learning
In this first session you will be introduced to Glasgow Ceramic Studio and start to get familiar with handling clay. We will take a look at some examples of how tiles have been used throughout history, with particular reference to Glasgow’s rich tile heritage. Then it’s time to experiment with a variety of different making techniques for cutting, creating images, surfaces and textures, to create your master tile ready for replication.

Week 2: Friday 2nd February, 18:30- 21:30* – Plaster Mould Making
This session will focus on creating a plaster mould of your tile design so that in week 3 we can produce multiple replicas ready for glazing and firing. Alison will guide you through the process of creating a frame and mixing the plaster prior to creating your very own tile mould.

*Please note the duration of this session will be up to 3 hours

Week 3: Friday 9th February, 18:30- 20:30 – Tile Reproduction
With plaster moulds created, it is now time to set the production line in motion to create your set of identical tiles. These will then be bisque fired ready for adding a colour in week 4.

Week 4: Friday 16th February, 18:30-20:30 – Decoration & Finishing
After a run through of some basic decorating techniques, now is the time to bring your tiles to life by adding some colour.  Once the tiles are decorated Alison will then glaze fire your pieces ready for collection at a later date.

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Annie’s Loo: Flushing Out the Past & Retrofitting for the Future

An old photo of a group of people standing on a Glasgow street

Wednesday 29th November 2023 | 7-8pm | Fairfield Heritage, Govan, G51 4XS

Join Raymond Young, who literally wrote the book on Annie’s Loo, and Carmen Lean from Loco Home Retrofit to hear more about the history of Annie’s Loo and how we can make tenement retrofit accessible.

Raymond will kick things off by discussing Annie’s Loo, which might not have been the first tenement retrofit, but the way it was carried out effectively kick started a programme throughout inner city Glasgow and beyond. He’ll discuss the context, the process, and the outcome. And maybe the future?

We’ll then hear from Carmen Lean of Loco Home Retrofit who will talk about Glasgow’s checkered history of retrofit and how we can learn from successes, failures and everything in between. How can we make quality retrofit more affordable and led by the people who live in tenements? Carmen will look at Loco Home’s evolving community-based approach, will share lessons learned from grappling with Glasgow’s old, cold and gas guzzling homes, and why we look to ‘Annie’s Loo’ for inspiration of retrofit done right.

Raymond Young was one of the founder members of ASSIST, the community architecture practice in Govan that pioneered both tenement rehabilitation and community-based housing associations, the story of which he tells in his book ‘Annie’s Loo’. He has a long term interest in community regeneration and sustainability and worked with the Housing Corporation and Scottish Homes. Previous roles included first chair of Architecture and Design Scotland, non-executive member of Historic Scotland, convenor of the Rural Housing Service, a member of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, and chair of the Church of Scotland’s General Trustees. 

Carmen Lean is the Community Development Officer for Loco Home Retrofit CIC which is a community-led home retrofit co-operative, based in Glasgow. Set up in 2021, Loco Home has a growing membership of around 200 retrofitters in Glasgow. Before joining Loco Home earlier this year, Carmen worked in climate action and campaigned against the demolition of Glasgow’s highrises. She studied architecture at Glasgow School of Art.

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Explore the City Chambers with our new digital tour!

The City Chambers is one of the most prestigious buildings in Glasgow. It’s a place where famous visitors are welcomed, and where big events such as civic receptions and award ceremonies are held. However, many Glaswegians have never been inside, or are unaware that free public tours take place every day. Our new online learning resource, ‘Our City Chambers’, aimed mainly at primary school aged children, enables them to explore the building in a way that is accessible, engaging and fun, even if they aren’t able to visit in person. Explore the resource here

It features animations of key rooms within the building, including the Banqueting Hall and Council Chambers. It also shows areas that are not always accessible to the public, such as the Councillors’ Corridor, the Lord Provost’s Office and the Portrait Gallery. It covers the architecture, design and social history of the Chambers, identifying the materials and the traditional skills and techniques employed in its construction and decoration. It also demonstrates how the building is still a functioning workplace for the council, and the role it plays in providing key public services to the people of Glasgow.

We worked closely with the design team at SUUM studio to create this resource. We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to them and to the staff at the City Chambers for their support and insights during the project. Children at St Mungo’s Primary School participated in a series of workshops in the development stages of the project, including a visit to the Chambers. Their perspectives on the building and the city of Glasgow were inspiring and joyful, and were instrumental in shaping the final resource.

A free printed resource to accompany the website has also been produced. It is available to pick up from the City Chambers and from GCHT’s office at 54 Bell Street in the Merchant City. A downloadable PDF will also be added here in due course.

We’d love to see some pictures of you visiting the Chambers – you can show them to us on our Twitter, Instagram or Facebook pages – use the hashtag #ourcitychambers

***SOLD OUT*** Workshop: Weaving Festive Willow Stars

2 star decorations made of willow

Wednesday 6th December 2023 | 6:30-8:30pm | GCHT, 54 Bell Street, G1 1LQ

Join Max Johnson from Seileach Basketry for weaving and mince pies at this cosy festive event! Max is a longtime forager, foodie and crafter, who lovingly weaves baskets & decorations using materials foraged in a range of landscapes, from idyllic rural riversides to derelict post-industrial sites.

People have been weaving with willow for at least 10,000 years. In this workshop we’ll use this ancient practice to weave festive star decorations. Making them is incredibly relaxing and meditative; a chance to engage with nature and express yourself creatively.

This session is suitable for beginners, no weaving experience necessary. All equipment and materials provided.

£30 per person

You might also be interested in…

Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.