Pumpkin carving

With our event on Halloween fast approaching, we thought it fitting to try our hands at pumpkin carving. We were happy with the results - though the event will be pumpkin free!

Screen printing the postcards

Yesterday saw us screen printing all 8 designs for the postcard set. It was quite the marathon! 


Here are a few images of the printing process . . .

Lesley Barnes

Gossip Wolf can't wait to print the beautiful work of contributor Lesley Barnes. Lesley Studied Film and English at Glasgow University before attending Glasgow School of Art to study 2D/3D Motion Graphics. Lesley’s graduation film 'Herzog and the Monsters' has shown in competition at film festivals all over the world and has won a number of awards. Lesley was selected for the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2007

Lesley recently expanded into illustration and her work has since featured in publications such as Grafik and The Sunday Times Style Magazine and at institutions such as the V&A.

Most recently Lesley has just directed an animated music video for Belle and Sebastian. She was also involved in a specially commissioned project fusing animation, genetics and jazz with Mercury nominated musician Kit Downes at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival earlier this year. To see more of her wonderful work and projects visit her site

Astrid Jaekel

Gossip Wolf is delighted to be working with Astrid Jaekel. Coming from a Fine Art Background in Germany, Astrid has now become an illustrator, cutting up large bits of black paper which are then installed and illuminated in windows throughout the Edinburgh city centre. Her work involves traditional German folklore but also more contemporary themes as last seen in her window work on Victoria Street which was on display during the Festival.

Currently some of her work is shown in the Red Door Gallery windows; a series featuring some iconic Edinburgh residents who have come out to play for the month of Halloween. Make sure to pop along and see it! To hear more about Astrid's projects visit her website and don't forget to check out her contribution to the postcard set later this month.

Gary Mackean

From Claystrations (illustrations turned 3D clay models!) to atmospheric paintings on found pieces of wood, Gossip Wolf contributor Gary Mackean has dabbled in abit of everything. Having been influenced by folktales and monsters from a young age he has naturally involved such characters and interests in his various works as seen in his upcoming graphic novel series Angus the Haggis Slayer, a series of books which features the adventures of the lone scottish warrior as he does battle with everything from dreaded wild haggises to the moo-ing howls of the Were Coo's of Aviemore. To hear more about Gary's projects and to see more of his work visit his blog or website.

Supernatural exhibition details confirmed . . .

Take a look at Laura's wonderful poster for details of Gossip Wolf's first event, to be held at Edinburgh College of Art on Halloween. If you are in Edinburgh that evening, please pop along to enjoy the work - plus complimentary food and drink!

– Kate McLelland

Emily MacKenzie

Meet Gossip Wolf contributor Emily MacKenzie. Emily works as a graphic designer and illustrator in Edinburgh. We are really looking forward to seeing what she creates for Gossip Wolf's first event. In the meantime take a look at her beautiful work and visit her blog

– Kate McLelland

A Dictionary of Fairies

Katharine Briggs’s A Dictionary of Fairies is a magnificently researched reference to the creatures within British Folklore and Mythology. It has introduced me to an abundance of characters such as Black Annis; a cannibal hag with a blue face and iron claws and the Nuckelavee; an Orcadian sea-monster who took the form of a centaur with one fiery red eye and a mouth as wide as a whale’s! I think this book is now sadly out of print but I managed to source a copy from ebay. 

- Laura Manson

My Current Obsession…

I borrowed Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained over a year ago from a friend and unfortunately for them I don’t have much intention of giving it back anytime soon! From the Abominable Snowman to Zombies, this book covers almost everything you will ever need to know about the mysterious, the paranormal and the supernatural. As research for our up coming exhibition ‘Supernatural’ I have been reading about the late Aleister Crowley (1875 – 1947). Described as the most notorious occultist of his generation and referred to by himself as ‘The Beast 666’ many linked the madness and deaths of those around him to his occult practises. 

– Laura Manson

Pop-up Tales of Mystery and Intrigue! – Laura Manson

Here are a couple examples of some pop-up postcards I’ve been working on recently featuring ‘The Mystery of Flannan Isle’ and the elusive ‘Sasquatch’. With a growing collection of curious stories I intend to create a series of 5-10 pop-up postcards featuring equally strange happenings and bizarre characters over the next few months!

– Laura Manson

Phantasmagoria

I just bought Phantasmagoria, by Terry Breverton. Apparently the title is the name given to the art of creating supernatural illusions and the gathering of phantoms or fantasies. The name was first given to a ghost show in the 18th Century, where a modified lantern projected frightening images.

This book covers 250 myths, legends and monsters and is a great starting point for our first mini exhibition 'Supernatural'. My favourite tale so far is about Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed, a prolific 17th Century female serial killer. She killed and was responsible for the deaths of at least 80 young girls in the name of 'witchcraft'.

– Kate McLelland 

Book inspiration . . .

We have been exploring the subject of folklore, myths and legends for several years now and thought we would start sharing some of the wonderful books we have discovered along the way. The one we continually go back to is Readers Digest's Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain. 


The book is split into three sections. The first first covers ancient superstitions, creatures, plants and festivals. The second section covers regional stories from across Great Britain. The final section describes key figures in British folklore.

The book is illustrated throughout and is a great starting point if you want to research how previous illustrators have tackled the theme. I don't think it is in print, so you need to look in second hand books shops, ebay or Amazon Marketplace.

– Kate McLelland