street art tour edinburgh

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A Street Art Tour of Edinburgh

Following in the footsteps of Glasgow’s resplendent street art scene, Edinburgh boasts its fair share of inspired murals. Simply seek and you shall find. As the kingpin of the capital’s street art movement, Leith is a hotbed of creative genius and visual feast of art-adorned buildings beckoning the mind’s eye to engage. From the historical to the contemporary, explore our art guide of some of the most mind-reeling murals embellishing Leith.

Leithlate: the minds behind the magic.

Responsible for putting Edinburgh’s street art world on the map, LeithLate is a visual arts organisation dedicated to championing public art initiatives like The Mural Project — a public artworks movement that preserves history, heritage and community spirit through these visual narratives — The Shutter Project (artists sprucing up local shop shutters with bespoke artworks), and the LeithLate Festival — an annual celebration with its exhibitions, panel talks, mural tours, installations, on-street interventions, spoken word performances and film screenings. Give LeithLate a blank space and an artist, and the result is a wondrous network of bespoke street art woven into the architectural and cultural fabric of Leith.

Leith History Mural By Tim Chalk & Paul Grime

The Leith Aquatic By Blameless Collective (2013)

A collaborative effort crafted in a torrent of creative burst by Blameless Collective, The Leith Aquatic is anchored on Halmyre Street and stays true to the legacy of Leith with its take on the Leith Persevere Crest. The ship was inspired by the last steam ship registered in Leith, the SS Explorer, while the fluid lines and telling narratives collide in the Scottish swelling sea.

Eduardo Paolozzi By Russell Dempster (2014)

This mural by Fife artist Russell Dempster pays homage to Leith-born artist, Pop Art pioneer and one of the UK’s most celebrated post-war sculptors Eduardo Paolozzi. This portrait, with its powerful gaze and brooding essence, can be found on Henderson Street and is comprised of paste-up poster, paint and pastel.

Wronger Rites By Kirsty Whiten (2015)

Always one to challenge entrenched precedents, renowned Scottish artist Kirsty Whiten never fails to create art that ignites the senses through her captivating social commentaries. Her Wronger Rites mural is no exception. Wronger Rites: The Quing of the Now Peoples was launched as part of LeithLate in the form of permanent and temporary public artworks spanning from paste ups opposite the Union St Printmakers to a poster tower on Leith Walk. Her stirring hand-painted mural lives a stone’s throw from Out Of The Blue Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street.

Elph Mural By Elph (2016)

Raved-about artist Elph is all the rage, with his work complimenting a labyrinth of buildings, walls and spaces around town. Lighting up Leith Walk with its haunting eyes, unicorn colours, textured hair and alluring vibe, the Elph Mural pays a firm nod to Japanese manga and anime characters while adding to the cultural pizzazz of Leith.

Pilrig Park Mural By Too Much Fun Club (2017)

Infused with bunches of personality and a pleasing potion of colours, the Pilrig Park Mural descended upon its city in 2017. Another spellbinding LeithLate collaboration by the Too Much Fun Club and Friends of Pilrig Park; the main sources of inspiration for the artists involved was the Pilrig Park Special Secondary School pupils, as well as members of Pilmeny Youth Centre, via collaborative workshops.

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Graffiti Art in Edinburgh

Experience the street art movement in Edinburgh. A graffiti art session will teach you about a fascinating history and get you creating your own murals alongside your mates.

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Edinburgh Graffiti Art

Have you ever wanted to get unleash your creative side in the form of spray paints and murals? Perhaps you’ve been too worried about getting into trouble or simply don’t feel you’ve got the drawing skills.

Well, with a graffiti art class in Edinburgh you can forget all about your worries. This experience is run by professionals and is designed to help anybody new to the art form or to those who haven’t picked up a paintbrush since primary school! You’ll be collaborating with your mates to create a breath-taking piece of art that even Banksy would be proud of!

You’ll learn all about the fascinating history of graffiti art. From its roots in 1970s New York and its bad reputation, all the way through to the stunning pieces that adorn our streets today. Think bright murals, funky lettering and impressive colours – you’ll be a master by the end of the class!

If you’re looking for something different to do during your birthday party or stag weekend in Edinburgh , this could be just what you need to let your hair down and explore your creative side.

Celebrate with a Graffiti Art Class in Edinburgh

During your graffiti art experience in Edinburgh, you’ll learn stencilling techniques, lettering and how to create characters. A professional artist will show you the ropes and offer expert techniques. You’ll use paint cans or markers or both and you’ll love working with your friends as you watch your masterpiece form and turn into something totally unique.

Edinburgh is a hub of culture and is home to some famous artists, so where better to learn graffiti art? Your venue will in the great outdoors, and everything will be totally legal so don’t worry about getting caught by the police as you unleash your creative juices and deface the wall!

Classes can be tailored to a specific theme so make sure to let the activity providers know in advance so they can make your session personal to you and your friends. This is ideal if you're celebrating a special occasion and want to treat your mates. What are you waiting for?

What’s Next?

Make sure to book onto a graffiti art experience in Edinburgh today to secure your place. All equipment will be provided, just make sure you wear clothes that you don’t mind getting paint on!

Do I need to know how to paint?

Not at all! These fun graffiti art classes are open to all abilities and led by professional tutors who’ll teach you a range of easy to pick up techniques.

What equipment do I need to bring?

None! Everything will be provided for you including spray paints, markers and the surface you'll be working on.

Is this activity legal?

Yep! Our activity providers only operate on legal premises. The surfaces you will be working are specially used for creating street art.

Is this activity safe?

Yes. The experienced instructors will make sure you're safe using the spray paints and will show you how to use them properly. If you have any questions, please contact the activity provider via the listing page.

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Street Art Walk of Leith in North Edinburgh

Description

Take your travel experience in Scotland to the next level with this Street Art Walk of Leith in North Edinburgh. This art tour is one of the best cultural tours Edinburgh has to offer.

This popular walking tour starts at 1A Pilrig St.

The entire experience lasts approximately 2 hours.

This cultural tour is offered in English. The tour limits group sizes to 10 participants.

The exact address of your departure location is 1A Pilrig St, Edinburgh EH6 5AG, UK.

Make sure to thoroughly explore the "Included" and "Good to know" sections below to find out more about the inclusions and insights provided by this cultural tour. The cancellation policy for this cultural tour is as follows: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Make your time in Edinburgh special by booking the unique Street Art Walk of Leith in North Edinburgh. Choose your travel dates and reserve a slot for this walking tour before it gets fully booked!

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EDINBURGH STREET ART TOUR

Edinburgh street art, edinburgh has a flourishing and vibrant street art scene..

Tour Details I’ll take you on a walking tour where you’ll discover colourful street art by famous and aspiring local artists along with modern sculptures by internationally acclaimed artists. Many vibrant and colourful murals and art adorn walls, shop fronts, bars and restaurants of the area. Several stunning pieces aren’t immediately visible and only found by deviating from well-known streets; this is often a gift to the community from the artist.

Two tours are available:

Leith  – you’ll discover that Leith in the north of the Edinburgh is the heart of the city’s flourishing street art scene with colour on every street corner.

City Centre and Colinton  – you’ll experience amazing street art as well as the astonishing Colinton Tunnel art project.

Each tour lasts around 3 hours and can be combined to form a full-day tour.

Alternatively, either Street Art Tour can be combined with any of my other Edinburgh tours to form a full-day tour.

These are walking tours therefore, comfortable footwear and suitable outdoor clothing is recommended. Don’t forget your camera!

Leith  – A half-day tour for up to six people is  £140.00 . City Centre and Colinton  – A half-day tour for up to six people is  £160.00  (includes a minibus transfer from the City Centre to Colinton Tunnel). Combined  – A full-day tour for up to six people is  £275.00  (includes a minibus transfer from the City Centre to Colinton Tunnel ).

Includes all planning and tour guide costs. Please note that any entrance costs, meals or refreshments are not included.

Contact me for details for larger groups.

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Urban Kultur Blog Street art, dance music & alternative culture

Edinburgh – street art walking tour.

Explore the Festival City’s hidden street art treasures. 

Edinburgh attracts millions of tourists during August for its major festivals, providing a stage for the world’s best musicians, artists, composers and actors.

But its steadily emerging street art scene gets little in the way of acknowledgement from these overwhelming commercial successes.

While nobody is deluded enough to suggest that our small scene rivals the likes of London, Bristol, or even Aberdeen (particularly following its partnership with Nuart ), it has many merits and rewards those who spend the time seeking it out.

Unlike some of these other cities, our scene in Edinburgh is built largely on the work of emerging and established local artists, something that in the days of huge international urban art festivals is becoming increasingly uncommon.

I’ve spent the last few years creating self-guided street art tours of many of my favourite European cities, so penning one for Edinburgh is long overdue. I love my city and I’m looking forward to sharing some of the highlights with you!

Edinburgh is a city that is best explored on foot, however bus travel is cheap and all of these sights lie not far from major bus routes.

We’ve also welcomed a bike hire scheme in the mould of Paris’ Velib or London’s Santander bikes – so you can pick up a Just Eat bike and see these on two wheels in double-quick time!

Drummond Street / Pleasance

If arriving in town by bus, train or tram, the first stop is not too far away.

Edinburgh is strewn with small standalone structures that were once used by the city’s policemen and policewomen as office space. Now no longer property of Police Scotland, many have been turned into micro businesses selling food and drinks. This particular box, set back slightly from the main road, has been transformed into an unusual canvas.

The piece on show when I took this photo was created by Cambridge born artist Mr Penfold – a mainstay of London’s vibrant public art scene for many years, and collaborator with local clothing brand Pieute .

This was one of his first paintings in Edinburgh, and signaled a major change in approach to the artist’s work

Make sure and drop by to see what new work covers the outside of this unusual structure.

Calton Road

Next up, the site of the iconic Studio24 nightclub, now sadly no more.

Late in 2016 local arts organisation Spectrum Arts gathered together some of Edinburgh’s creative minds to cover the full building in a mural paying homage to Edinburgh institutions and legendary club nights held within its four walls.

See if you can spot the nearby Scottish Parliament , fish and chip takeaway Bene’s and the Bongo Club scattered across this enormous and impressive piece.

Spectrum Arts also work in partnership with Mainline – a fantastic shop on the Canongate which includes a very cool gallery space – make sure and drop by if you have the time.

Abbeyhill / Abbeymount bridge

A short walk onwards to this mural situated beneath the busy railway tracks that lead into Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.

Painted by Fraser Gray and FiST this was painted in collaboration with the help and design inspiration of local elderly residents via Viewpoint Housing and Edinburgh’s public art pioneers, Leith Late – a name synonymous with Edinburgh’s public art progress.

The stories and memories of the elderly residents of the area heavily influenced the eventual outcome of the mural, which certainly still retains the flavour of Fraser’s previous mural projects.

This artwork was also made possible thanks to the help of the anti-graffiti initiative A1derful Abbeyhill that works closely with local businesses, schools and residents to clean up the area.

Leith Walk – Bier Hoose

The most recent addition to Edinburgh’s street art scene.

Bier Hoose stakes the claim as the first bar in Leith focusing specifically on German and Belgian beer and street food. KMG ’s design, like many of those painted on the shutters of Leith Walk, pays homage to the business they adorn.

The triptych / triple shutter piece was painted in KMG’s signature style, playful characters each with a nod to the German and Belgian focus of the bar – pretzels, beer and bratwurst.

Halmyre Street

Making the trip downhill and further into Leith your next stop is 1 Halmyre Street for the Blameless Collective ’s mural titled The Leith Aquatic.

Like the Abbeyhill mural this was also painted in collaboration with an older people’s housing association – their memories and direct input guiding the finished artwork which features references about the area both old and new.

Hear from Fraser who was involved in this particular piece in my interview with him in this video.

The artists involved in this were Rabiya Choudhry, Fraser Gray, Martin McGuinness, Richie Cumming, DUFI and Fraser Douglas – together known as the Blameless Collective.

Leith Walk – Lovella

Elph is one of Edinburgh’s most impressive talents, his work can be found dotted around various locations, but it’s this particular one that I’ve chosen to highlight – organised once again by LeithLate.

The colour scheme helps this piece blend into the shop it sits on. A key part of the LeithLate project is not to just drop artwork onto the city, but pay keen attention to the surroundings.

It also draws on that Japanese pop culture vibe, something that features regularly in Elph’s artwork, with the figure at the centre of the piece seemingly taking strong influence from the country’s comic book scene.

Henderson Street

Edinburgh has been the birthplace of many famous writers, inventors and artists – notably pop artist Eduardo Paolozzi.

We’ve got a beer named after him , several of his larger than life statues across the city, and this stunning piece from Russell Dempster that pay homage to the Scottish Italian.

The shop front that is now home to this artwork was at one time an ice cream shop – a nice link back to Paolozzi’s childhood in Leith where he lived above, and helped out in, the family ice cream business.

The shattered glass effect looks amazing, and is reminiscent of some of Paolozzi’s sculpture works, for example those at the top of Leith Walk with their disjointed overlapping appearance.

Marine Parade

The final stop of this tour takes us to the shoreline – and the UK’s longest legal graffiti wall – Marine Parade .

It goes without saying that this space sees a pretty regular turnover of art and many of the pieces I’ve highlighted here will no longer be up by the time you visit.

Nevertheless, you should still make time to seek out this space. The organisers of the wall hold regular graffiti jams, and if you time it right you might be in town for their latest project.

Some of the artists featured above often join in here to provide a blend of styles from the abstract to figurative, letters to characters.

Tat’s us for this tour. Of course, this is not the only art on display in Edinburgh. You can keep an eye on the UKB Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest work popping up across the city.

If you use this tour, remember to tag us @ urbankulturblog and #urbankulturblog so I can see what you found on your travels! Steven UKB

Published by urbankulturblog

Edinburgh based music, street art and photography blog covering all aspects both at home, in Europe and beyond. View all posts by urbankulturblog

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26 photos capturing Edinburgh's street art

A small sample of the wide variety of paste-ups, stickers, murals and tags that decorate Scotland's capital

While hardly the graffiti capital of Europe, Edinburgh is still decorated with a healthy smattering of street art - so long as you know where to look. Here's a selection of some of our favourites, from small-scale stickers to wall-dominating paste-ups and murals.

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Glasgow is well-known for its street art that looks at home in an industrial city but what about the streets of Edinburgh?

While it may not be as stark inf Edinburgh as it is in our neighbours in the west, the Scottish capital boasts some incredible pieces of street art.

And over the last six years Edinburgh has been building up its street art presence, largely thanks to The Mural Project, which started up in 2013.

Launched by the visual arts organisation LeithLate, The Leith Aquatic mural became the first to be painted in two decades - and it's not stopped there. 

This has paved the way for further commissions and for a variety of artist expressionists to flourish in the city. But which street art is receiving the most attention in Edinburgh right now?

New research, carried out by TransPennine Express here , has revealed the top ten pieces of street art that are the most talked about on Instagram.

The top 10 are:

Never Ordinary, by Paramount Pictures, on Candlemaker Row.

Capita Mural, by Chris Rutterford, on 145 Morrison Street.

Wildlife Mural, by Rouge Oner, on Bridge 8 Hub.

Etza's Skull by Etza Marine on Parade Graffiti Wall.

Eduardo Paolozzi by Russell Ian Dempster on Henderson Street.

Gifford Park Mural by Kate George in Gifford Park.

Bongo Club Gate Mural buy Kirsty Whiten in the Cowgate.

Studio 24 Mural by Sepctrum Arts on Calton Road.

Leith History Mural by Tim Chalk & Paul Grime in Leith Library.

4 Doors Down Street Art Project by Miiss U Kam-Ling in Quality Yard

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Women in STEM Street Art Trail

The Women in STEM Street Art Trail was created to celebrate nine amazing women who have passionately contributed to the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival 2021. Now that the festival is over, not all of the art pieces are on display but you can still use this tour to learn about these remarkable women.  

This trail was co-created in partnership with Edinburgh Science’s Community Engagement and major Programming Partners, including: Citadel Youth Centre, WHALE Arts, North Edinburgh Arts, The Space/Broomhouse Hub, The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Edinburgh Zoo, Dynamic Earth and Summerhall.

We are delighted to have worked in partnership with local Artists Shona Hardie and Kerry Wilson to deliver this project. This project is presented by Edinburgh Science Festival and is supported by The Edina Trust.

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Free Edinburgh Alternative Street Art Tour

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Explore the Artistic Side of  Edinburgh

This Free Edinburgh Original Alternative Street Art Tour  is a unique and different tour curated for lovers of art! It gives you the freedom to discover the city’s alternative culture and street art in an immersive way from district to district.

Get to know the districts and streets where the locals express themselves unhindered using the walls as their canvas. Our Edinburgh Alternative Street Art tour provides tour guides who will acquaint you with the city’s modern culture as best as possible, socialize with other travelers while taking the time to make sure you see the best sights the city has to offer.

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Of course, this experience will only be complete if you join us at night for our  Free Edinburgh Pub Crawl to be part of the bubbling nightlife!

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Where to Find The Best Street Art in Scotland

Home > Blog > Where to Find The Best Street Art in Scotland

Can street art revive an area? Is it an eyesore or a feast for the senses? Is graffiti a work of art or destroying city architecture?

Scotland has embraced the transformative power of street art and I, for one, am a big fan. Public art has become a tool to breathe life into forgotten areas of Scotland’s cities, drawing tourists and locals alike to new, re-emerging urban centres.

Instead of words, street art in 2019 encompasses characters, murals, portraits and public art on a grand scale. It leads people off-the-beaten-track to discover lesser-known and, perhaps, more authentic districts, while encouraging locals to take pride in their city.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jolene Dejonghe (@djowleen)

Absolute Escapes offer award-winning  self-drive holidays  in Scotland which can be customised to match your interests and budget. Why not treat your eyes to something different and discover Scotland’s best street art on your tailor-made trip?

Here are some of my highlights of the Scottish street art scene.

In the last twenty years, Glasgow has gone through extensive urban regeneration. This vibrant city has revamped itself to become the epitome of modern, post-industrial success, known for its adventurous restaurants, shopping and long-standing and successful cultural scene.

Street art has become synonymous with Glasgow’s contemporary image, and new pieces of artwork are commissioned regularly. As a young student, I had a flat in the beautiful Merchant City, one of Glasgow’s oldest quarters. Once the stomping ground of wealthy traders and home to the old fruit and meat markets it is now a cultural centre in the heart of the city, akin to London’s Covent Garden.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by glasgowstreetart (@glasgowstreetart)

Living here, we once spent a whole afternoon watching with delight as a giant mural was painted on the huge wall of the previously dingy car park opposite our flat. This was a piece called ‘ Fellow Glasgow Residents ‘ which features an array of animals found in Glasgow’s green spaces. It totally transformed our street and gradually murals cropped up throughout the city.

These have been a stunning addition to the cityscape, full of vibrancy and colour.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Smug (@smugone) on Apr 17, 2016 at 6:40am PDT

The  City Centre Mural Trail  is a great way to explore Glasgow. Established in 2008, the trail aims to brighten up vacant sites and rejuvenate the streets in order to support local businesses. There is a huge variety of artwork and any local artist can apply to Glasgow council to get involved.

Here are some of my favourites:

Saint Mungo  – depicts St Mungo the patron saint of Glasgow in modern-day clothes. By  SMUG

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Merv (@wxmmerv)

Billy Connolly  – three murals commissioned to honour international star Billy Connolly’s 75th birthday by Jack Vettriano, John Byrne and Rachel Maclean. The original portraits are on display in the  People’s Palace .

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Frankie MacEachen (@boldfrankphotography) on May 17, 2019 at 9:24am PDT

The World’s Most Economical Taxi – such a fun image by Rogue One.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW (@peoplemakeglasgow) on Feb 11, 2019 at 7:18am PST

It’s also well worth seeking out the stunning murals by local artist EJEK . These include works at Strathclyde University, the Clutha vaults, and this wonderful tribute to American comic book writer Stan Lee which you can find on Abbotsford Place in the Gorbals.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by EJEK ejec (@ejek98)

2019 is Dundee’s year. Until now it has been a lesser-visited Scottish city, however with the new V&A Museum (Scotland’s first design museum) and the regeneration of the riverside – the city is finding its place on the tourism map.

Dundee’s latest street art project – Open/Close – offers a unique way to explore the city, with two trails of painted doors featuring 38 individual pieces by local artists. As in Glasgow, the project aims to bring life to forgotten corners, enhancing city life for all to enjoy.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Russell Pepper (@openclosedundee) on May 4, 2018 at 3:23am PDT

Begun in 2017 the plan was to create six pieces of art but so many artists (many from the successful art school) were keen to volunteer and get involved that the project quickly exploded.

The second trail around the Stobswell area was created to show tourists the “Real Dundee” away from the main waterfront, and all proceeds from map sales and tours go towards future artwork.

Some of my favourites are work by Dundee-based Paco Graff, and jewellery and kilt pin designer Islay Spalding.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Russell Pepper (@openclosedundee) on May 21, 2017 at 4:26am PDT

In the granite city of Aberdeen, new pieces of artwork have revitalised the city, bringing a new sense of excitement to the city walls.

Nuart Street Art Festival is now a permanent feature of the city arts calendar and has brought artists from all over the world to paint their mark on Aberdeen. Most artwork is concentrated in and around Union Street in the city centre and can be easily explored in a day.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Nuart Aberdeen (@nuartaberdeen) on May 2, 2018 at 3:54am PDT

One of my favourite pieces by artist Snik is on Ship Row, just off Union Street, and features a young woman being dragged into the sky by a group of bluetits.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Snik (@snikarts) on Apr 23, 2018 at 8:40am PDT

Edinburgh is more closely associated with fine art and old town architecture than street art, but head down to the city’s port and you will find the revitalised area of Leith – the hub for music and arts.

Arts organisation LeithLate has been responsible for spearheading street art in Leith. Their shutter project aims to transform shop shutters around the district, while their mural project uses artwork to represent the history and community spirit of Leith.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by LeithLate (@leithlate) on Sep 13, 2016 at 5:37am PDT

The first mural, Leith Aquatic, was painted in 2013 in consultation with residents from a local housing scheme. As more and more restaurants, bars and cultural venues open in Leith, street art has become a permanent and enthralling feature. We’d highly recommend visiting this vibrant corner of Edinburgh!

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by LeithLate (@leithlate) on Jun 26, 2016 at 2:03am PDT

This part of town also hosts the UK’s longest legal graffiti wall at 330m! The Marine Parade Graffiti wall was created in 2018 and forms an alternative outside gallery.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Chelsea Charles (@mentalgemini14) on Aug 3, 2019 at 4:32am PDT

The street art offered in Scotland’s cities is so varied, there really is something for everyone. You often come across it unexpectedly and it can’t fail to delight. The best thing is that street art is out in the open for anyone to enjoy. It is a free and inclusive art form that reflects the inclusive and welcoming nature of Scotland. Iconic images connect people and re-energise landscapes in a modern art form that has well and truly found its place here.

At Absolute Escapes, we are big fans of getting outside, and street art offers the perfect opportunity to mix this with a splash of culture!

Caitlin Rush

P.S. Discover Scotland’s cities on one of our tailor-made Scottish self-drive holidays and get off-the-beaten-track!

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by @graffiti_streetart_and_signs

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THE S TREET ART  GALLERY 

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Here we have a collection of some classic album cover art by famous street artists

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