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It was time to hit the road again and head down to Ayr Town Hall for another Blackheart Market! This time, rather than simply jumping straight into the market, I decided to take you along for the journey. The latest Arttoon video starts with a wander through Ayr, beginning at the Cutty Sark Centre, passing the Farmers Market and taking in a few of the sights and sounds of the town before making my way towards Ayr Town Hall. Then it's time for the main event! The Blackheart Ma

It was fantastic to be back in Greenock for the Blackheart Market. It had been a while since my last event in Greenock, so there was something really enjoyable about bringing the Arttoon Studio back on the road and spending the day creating, drawing and chatting with visitors. Blackheart Market is a great fit for my artwork, with its celebration of Horror, Gothic and Alternative Culture. I brought along a selection of my Original Art and Prints, including some of my horror-in

From Lens to Line From Lens to Line brings together several different sides of my creative world — photography, fine art and illustration. While much of the exhibition focuses on my palette knife paintings and photography, illustration has always been an important part of what I do. Under my Arttoon name, I create illustrations that are often fun, colourful, quirky and sometimes a little bit different. From cartoons and caricatures to fan art, characters and completely origin

It has been a fantastic few weeks on the road, taking my artwork, prints, books and live drawing to three very different events across Scotland. First came Kirkcaldy Comic Con, followed by Dundee Comic Con, and then I headed back home to East Kilbride for Blackheart Market. Three events, three very different audiences and three completely different atmospheres – but all three were great experiences. I've also been introducing new artwork at each event, adding more characters

New Fan Art It’s been another busy spell in the studio, and I’m delighted to be taking five brand-new pieces of Fan Art out on the road with me over the coming weeks. From superheroes and supervillains to horror icons, cult movie characters and one of the greatest country music stars of all time, this latest collection brings together some very different worlds — but they all have one thing in common: I love turning the characters and people we know into my own style of art.

East Kilbride Comic Con What a fantastic weekend at East Kilbride Comic Con! Over Saturday and Sunday, I had the pleasure of exhibiting my artwork and meeting a fantastic mix of comic fans, families, fellow creatives and visitors. It was a busy and enjoyable couple of days, with plenty to see and do and a brilliant range of vendors bringing something different to the event. For me, it was also a chance to showcase some brand-new original artwork, create live cartoons and cari

There is something very exciting about packing up your artwork and taking it on the road to an art fair. It is a chance to step away from the studio, meet other artists and, most importantly, see how people respond to your work in person. My latest adventure took me north to the Aberdeen Art Fair, and this time I had quite a collection to transport! Five Big Paintings One of the biggest challenges was deciding which original paintings to take. I wanted to show a good represen

Discover Neil G Smith Art Most people know me through Arttoon – my cartoons, caricatures, paintings, illustrations, murals and all the colourful characters that have become part of my artistic world. But there is another side to my creative work that has been growing for many years: photography. That is why I created Neil G Smith Art – The Art of Photography, my dedicated photography website at neilgsmithart.co.uk. A Different Way of Seeing For me, photography has never simpl

From Wedding Caricatures to Carrick Bay Some trips combine work, creativity and a chance to explore somewhere new, and my recent journey down to Dumfries & Galloway was definitely one of those days. The main reason for the trip was a very special one – I was heading to the beautiful Ernespie Hotel to provide live cartoons and caricatures for Vikki and Logan’s wedding. There’s something I particularly enjoy about drawing at weddings. Every celebration has its own atmosphere, a

A Series of Firsts Sometimes you look back at a weekend and realise just how many milestones you've managed to squeeze into a couple of days. This was certainly one of those occasions, as I found myself experiencing a series of firsts, with a horror event, a brand-new comic con and even a little trip down memory lane. My First Show with Blackheart Events The first stop was particularly exciting because it was my first ever show with Blackheart Events. For this event I decided

Arttoon on the Road It’s been another busy week of art, Comic Cons, travelling and plenty of drawing, so I thought I’d put together a video taking you along for the journey — starting at my Studio Gallery before heading out on the road to Moffat and Penrith. A Look Around the Studio Gallery The video begins at my Studio Gallery, where I take you on a tour of some of the artwork currently on display. There’s a real mixture of styles and subjects, including my Rock Legends pain

The Fun of the Comic Con There are some events that leave you smiling all the way home, and Inverness Comic Con was definitely one of them. From the moment the doors opened at Inverness Leisure Centre, the atmosphere was fantastic. The crowds were through the doors early and before long my stand was surrounded by people looking through my latest original artwork, choosing prints and, of course, queuing for one of my live full-colour cartoons and caricatures. I've attended man

Neil G Smith aka Arttoon There is something incredibly rewarding about creating a piece of artwork that has been designed especially for one person. Every commission is unique, with its own story, memories and personality, making it one of the most enjoyable parts of being an artist. Whether it's a birthday surprise, wedding gift, retirement present, anniversary or simply a special treat for yourself, commissioned artwork offers something that you simply can't buy off the she

Invited to the Palace? During our latest adventure in Cascais, we finally stepped inside the magnificent Palácio da Cidadela de Cascais, one of Portugal's most elegant royal residences. Well... I may have told everyone on YouTube that we had been personally invited to the palace. Sadly, the invitation never quite made it through the post, but it certainly made for a good story! In reality, the palace is open to visitors, giving you the chance to wander through room after room

Perth Comic Con Perth Comic Con by BGCP once again proved to be one of the highlights of my events calendar, bringing together comic book fans, movie enthusiasts, cosplayers and collectors for an unforgettable day at the Dewars Centre in Perth. The venue was buzzing from the moment the doors opened, with visitors travelling from across Scotland to celebrate everything from superheroes and horror icons to anime, gaming and pop culture. This year I had a fantastic stand showcas

The Best Car Park in the World? It might sound like an odd statement, but hear me out... I genuinely think the car park at Cascais Marina could be one of the best car parks in the world! During our stay at the magnificent Pestana Cidadela Cascais, perched beside the harbour within the historic fortress walls, we wandered down after hearing there was a real buzz about the place. Jamiroquai was performing later that evening at the nearby Manuel Possolo Racecourse, and curiosity

Marilyn and Elvis Unplugged One of the highlights of our visit to Cascais was discovering a fascinating exhibition at the Centro Cultural de Cascais, showcasing the early lives of two of the world's greatest cultural icons – Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Rather than focusing on the superstardom they would eventually achieve, the exhibition offered a rare glimpse into the moments just before their lives changed forever. Through the remarkable work of photographers André de

Cascais takes on a new Character As the sun slowly disappears beyond the Atlantic Ocean, Cascais takes on an entirely different character. The bustling beaches and busy promenades of the daytime give way to a relaxed and atmospheric evening, with the town illuminated by warm lights and the gentle sound of the sea never far away. There is something magical about simply wandering through the streets of Cascais after dark. The cobbled lanes of the old town become quieter, allowi

Discovering the Wild Coast of Cascais One of the highlights of our time in Portugal was a wonderful coastal walk from Cascais to some of the area's most famous landmarks, all under glorious sunshine and with the Atlantic providing a constant dramatic backdrop. Our first stop was the spectacular Boca do Inferno, or "Hell's Mouth." This natural sea arch and cave is one of Cascais' most visited attractions and it's easy to see why. The sheer power of the Atlantic Ocean is on ful

A Spectacular Summer Arrival Over Portugal There is something magical about arriving in a new destination by air, especially when the weather is perfect and the views are simply breathtaking. Our recent journey into Lisbon provided exactly that – a stunning summer morning flight over some of Portugal's most beautiful landscapes. As the aircraft began its descent, the first sights to appear below were the rolling hills and historic landscapes surrounding Sintra. Famous for its