Some cities you visit, and some cities stay with you. Edinburgh has always been the second kind for me.
Ever since I finished the Quintessentially London collection, a new design had been quietly taking shape in my head. I'd close my eyes and find myself wandering up the Royal Mile, peering down a narrow close, or catching my breath at the top of yet another flight of steps. It wasn't long before those daydreams made their way onto paper, and I started sketching.
Today I'm so excited to finally share it with you: Everything Edinburgh.
A city that stole my heart
I've visited Edinburgh many times over the years, and every trip leaves me a little more in love. It's the character and the charm, the winding cobbled streets, the history in every stone, and the views that stop you in your tracks. It's the sounds and the smells, the food, and above all the people. It's such a friendly city, with a real buzz about it.
And while I'll never say no to a piece of shortbread (all that delicious, buttery goodness!), there's so much more to Edinburgh than tartan and biscuits. I wanted to capture the city I've come to know: the wonderfully diverse architecture, the hidden corners, and all the little things that make Edinburgh so special. I really wanted to do it justice.
Memories on every corner
Working on this collection brought back so many happy memories. There were moments from different visits, and scenes from films I love that are set in the city. Trainspotting, One Day and Avengers: Infinity War couldn't be more different, but each one shows off Edinburgh in its own way, and I adore them all.
Then there's the food. I've loved haggis, neeps and tatties since I was a little girl, and that warm, peppery flavour still takes me straight back. (I'll confess that as a child I genuinely believed a haggis was a little animal running around the Highlands… mainly because that’s what my parents told me!). On our last trip it was a joy to introduce our daughter to the dish, although it was a creamy bowl of cullen skink that truly won her over.
Get lost in the design
Edinburgh is a city made for getting lost in, and I wanted the design to feel exactly the same. Wherever your eye settles, you'll discover something new.
At the heart of the design sit the city's iconic buildings, with the castle perched proudly at the top and the beautiful Ross Fountain in the foreground. Beside it stands a piper in full dress, and look a little closer and you'll find loyal Greyfriars Bobby, John Knox House, and a bus with "Edinburgh" written along its side. And just like the city itself, there are stairs dotted around. As you climb them through the design, more and more reveals itself, just as it does when you explore the Old Town on foot.
Keep looking and you'll spot some hidden gems too: acrobats and street entertainers, a cannon from Edinburgh Castle, the bell of the Royal Yacht Britannia, and the giant foot sculpture near Leith Walk. Some of these were suggested by my Edinburgh friends, who pointed me towards the little quirks that locals know and love. Their ideas were so helpful, and I think they've made the design all the richer for it. How many can you find?
From sketchbook to tea towel
The design is made up of over 50 individual drawings, each one taking anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours to illustrate. All in all, the main design took more than 100 hours to create, and building the full collection from it took around the same again.
The very last drawing I did was the Ross Fountain, sketched on my most recent visit to Edinburgh in March. I'd tried to draw it from my photos before, but it was only when I stood in front of it and sketched it in person that I could really see all its intricate detail. There's something rather magical about drawing a place while you're standing right in it. I drew the piper there too, and because these two drawings are so full of detail, they earned their place right at the front of the design.
Once every element was drawn, I took each one and pieced them together, like a jigsaw, to create the final tea towel. It's a slow process, moving buildings and details around until everything sits just right and the whole thing feels like Edinburgh.
From that tea towel, the rest of the range was born. For some of the smaller products, like the keyrings, I picked out key images that felt special enough to stand on their own such as the castle and highland cow. For others, I created brand new layouts using the same hand-drawn icons, so every piece feels part of the same family. There's a lot of love, and a lot of tiny details and thought, in every product, right down to the backing cards on the keyrings and the inside and back covers of the notebooks.
Navy, gold and made in the UK
The collection is printed in navy and gold. The navy is inspired by the Saltire, Scotland's flag, and the gold pairs with it so beautifully, giving the whole range a regal feel that suits this grand old city perfectly.
With over 20 products, all made here in the UK, there's something for every Edinburgh lover. The range includes tea towels, mugs, an egg cup, canvas bags, baubles, notebooks, soaps, candles, keyrings, pin badges, wooden decorations, a print, postcards, a cosmetic bag, magnets and coasters. Whether you're treating yourself to a reminder of a favourite trip or looking for the perfect gift for someone who holds the city close to their heart, I hope you'll find something to love.
Pre-order now
Everything Edinburgh is available to pre-order now, with stock arriving from March 2027. If you're a retailer, you can request samples along with the full Everything Edinburgh catalogue.
This collection was born from a genuine love of the place, and I hope that comes through in every line. I can't wait for you to explore it, get a little lost, and see what you discover.