Three Harbours People (© Jon Eland, 2011)

The 3 Harbours Arts Festival has now closed registrations for visual artists, musicians, performers, events and venues to attend our 2012 event – the largest and most diverse arts festival in East Lothian.

This year’s festival will run from 2nd — 10th June in Cockenzie, Port Seton and Prestonpans.

• Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November - 11am to 5pm
• Free Entry

The Cockenzie House Heritage Group and 3 Harbours Arts Festival invite you to a:

• Christmas art exhibition with paintings, prints, ceramics, glass and more
• A variety of crafts and Christmas trimmings
• Conservatory café with tasty festive treats.

Join us for your Christmas shopping in this splendid late 16th Century house set in beautiful gardens in Cockenzie

22 Edinburgh Road, Cockenzie | Website

The winning mural in progress; with artist Liz Neilson

The Mural Fest in Cuthill Park showcased the talents of 6 artists in Prestonpans at the weekend. It was one of the main events wrapping up the fortnight of art exhibitions in the 3 Harbours Festival. The painters created their murals based on their different interpretations of a given poem.

David Grigor is one of the artists who took part in the event. It was his third time participating in the Mural Fest and the artist obviously valued the experience.

“It’s the most expressive way of getting involved in it” he said. “It’s fantastic having people coming around just to look and ask questions”.

David talked about the ghostly atmosphere in his painting. As well as the ships being represented in the harbour the artist also portrayed the industrial element with the trains in the background of the mural. With only two days to complete the mural David did not have an easy task ahead of him but this seems to have added to the process.

“To actually try and work through a piece of artwork within two days is very challenging and I enjoy it all the time”.

“I wanted to convey the idea of land merging into sea and sea turning into land” she explained. “In the poem the Topaz  is the boat that gets stuck.” Shelley represents this idea in the main body of her mural. “The skeleton ships are stuck in the mud and they are never leaving.” There is an element of hope in the painting though as the artist indicated the lone vessel in the top-left corner of her work. “It’s the one that got away” she added with a smile.

Shelley also demonstrates her interest in old maps in her representation of the harbour with it’s tide mill and narrow basin. She stated that these were marked in on the 18th century ordinance survey maps of the harbour.

During previous festivals, Ms Jones has opened her house to other exhibitions but this is the first time she has participated as an active artist herself. I asked her how she found doing the mural.

“Terrifying”, she said. “I’ve never done a mural before.” However, despite any nerves the experience has obviously been a positive one for the artist. “I enjoyed being creative. When you are hosting it’s difficult to see things.” The painter also seemed to revel in the experience of being around the other mural artists.

To learn more about Genevieve and her work check out her website

“It’s fantastic that the 3 Harbours Festival has started up because it’s really been very restorative for the area.” According to the artist, the Festival has encouraged people to think about the traditions and history of the area. The inspiration for Wendy’s work comes from the local environment and she seems to focus on the harbour tradition in her exhibition of paintings.The Irish artist spoke warmly about living in the area.

“It’s a fantastic place to live. It’s a very vibrant, very warm community. I’m originally from Ireland but I’ve very much adopted this as my second home”.

If you’re interested in learning more about Wendy and her work check out her website

The 3 Harbours only exists because of the generosity of those willing to donate to and ensure the festival continues — we simply cannot exist on grants and commissions alone.

To help ensure the festival keeps going We’re offering you a chance to win one of several wonderful artworks in this year’s raffle:
– An original signed lithograph by John Bellany
– Oil Painting by Andrew Crummy
– Print by Alistair Hamilton
– Print by Rory Hamilton
– Ceramic Sculpture by Alison Robinson
– Print by Morris Lee

Tickets are £2 each
​​​​​​​Prizes will be drawn: 5th June 2011
View prizes (and buy tickets) at Cockenzie Power Station​​​ (Venue 14), Cockenzie House (Venue 16) and Cockenzie Business Centre (Venue 24)

All of this means not only more party, holiday and pet snapshots — but also a huge rise in the popularity of photography as a visual art form and documentary recording medium.

With this in mind, 3 Harbours have launched Photospace — a venue dedicated to photography and featuring the work of 7 artists — Dhana McIver, Leigh Matthews, Kathryn Berg, Alan Berg, Glyn Stanworth, Laurie Dixon and Jon Eland. You’ll find us in Prestonpans Town Hall (venue 9) — opposite the coop and protected by a blue cow.

In addition to having photography work on display, you’ll find 2 organised photo walks over the festival. I’m leading the first one, starting at 11am on Sunday 29th (and linked to a similar walk taking place in Bradford) taking in Prestonpans, Prestongrange Museum, the seashore and Cockenzie Power Station. A second walk, organised by the Edinburgh Digital Photography Meetup Group, starts at 11.30 on Saturday 4th June — meeting at The Harbour Takeaway, Port Seton.

Want to Improve Your Snapshots?
If you like photography and would like a few tips on how to get a bit more from your camera and on taking better photos, come along to one of two free short creative photography workshops on Monday 30th May.
1pm — 2.30pm — meet at Prestongrange Museum Visitor’s Centre
3.30pm — 5.00pm — meet at Cockenzie Business Centre
You can attend both if you wish.
Bring a camera — and plan to be outdoors!

Fiona Crosbie from the Seashore Gallery reported that she had a great evening and really enjoyed meeting everyone; adding that she had never seen the gallery so full.

Before that was the event at Cockenzie Power Station — you can see a shot to the right and further images from it on our Flickr Page

Were you at either event? Why not add your comments below! Or, if you want to get more actively involved in telling the world about what’s going on, why not join our ‘Roving Reporters’?

Don’t forget that today is Cockenzie Gala — come along and join the community in celebrating!

Impromptu ‘studio’ photography workshop as part of last year’s photowalk

We’re sorry to say that, in light of the poor weather predictions for Sunday, we’ve had to cancel this weekend’s Coastal Food Fair — but other events will still be going ahead! (and we’re convinced the weather won’t actually be so bad…)

Saturday will see the Cockenzie Gala and the Roving Reporters Bootcamp, finishing with live music at The Goth and Sunday sees the return of the 3 Harbours Photowalk (alternate option in place for inclement weather) and a swinging Sixties event at Prestongrange Museum. Again you’ll find live music at both Cockenzie House and The Goth to complete the day.

In addition to our special daily events you’ll find a warm welcome at the visual arts and open house venues and not forgetting the open days at Cockienzie House!

Wed 1st
Just to mention an update to this weekend’s photo walk by the Edinburgh Digital Photography Meetup group; they are now meeting from 11.30 at The Harbour Take Away in Port Seton.

Sunday 29th
John Wood joins the Photospace. After attending this year’s photo walk, John presented a series of his landscape prints for display alongside the other seven photographers already at Prestonpans Town Hall. The venue is open next weekend (4th and 5th June).

Friday 27th
We’re in The Scotsman…

Thursday 26th — 3pm
COASTAL GOOD FAIR CANCELLED (Sun 29 May)
Sorry all — Sunday’s event will not be going ahead; the weather forecast was so grim we weren’t able to plan to put tents etc up! But… there’s plenty else going on indoors!

For everyone who has taken part in or otherwise supported the 3 Harbours Arts Festival!

Poster created by Caroline Fearon Doney

Robin Abbey doing a master class in sign writing.

I don’t have the full details on this event — reporting as I am from Leeds — but here’s a great photo!

The images in this post give you a taste of what you’ll see in the grounds of the house at the festival.

It’s key this brief overview starts with the word ‘Welcome’ — as that’s the key thing about this festival — it welcomes all and provides a very warm one at that.

Whether you come to experience the visual arts, to take part in workshops, to watch musicians and other performers, to experience the coastal culinary delights or other things beyond — we welcome you!

For now — come in to our brand new site; have a good look around and then come along and join us for a great festival from 28th May to 5th June.

We look forward to welcoming you!