Illustrations of bottles

I’ve always had a strong desire to draw, paint and illustrate bottles. I’m not entirely sure why, but the son of a chef, publican and hotel manager,  probably explains part of it.

I find bottles aesthetically pleasing. Particularly a beautiful bottle with a lovely label. Beers, wines and olive oil are often very beautiful objects. Champagne bottles are pieces of art in their own right.

I love classic still life from art history, but I always want something in the composition to not be expected. In this case it’s the pie. The key ingredient of a Scottish football match half-time snack.

The products in the illustration all relate to the North or North East of Scotland. The area I am from in Scotland, and also represents the football team I support.

All the products except one. The San Miguel beer is from Madrid. A reference to Aberdeen beating Real Madrid in 1983 in the Cup Winners Cup Final.

This also takes me back to my time as a blackboard artist in London, working for pubs, restaurants and hotels on their blackboards.