Demarco’s Collection

Demarco's Scotland; 9781804251669

Demarco's Edinburgh; 9781804250952

About Demarco's Scotland:

Scotland’s greatest gift to the world has been itself, its culture, its creativity, the extraordinary ability of its people to integrate and celebrate what truly matters in global terms, friendship and decency. Add in our greatest export, Scotch whisky; our iconic clan and family tartans; our golf courses and musical traditions, and you have an identity that is instantly recognisable and internationally respected and loved. Wear a kilt in Manhattan or Paris and you make friends for life.

Art, culture and history circulate the lives of Richard Demarco and Roddy Martine. This compelling sequel to Demarco’s Edinburgh battles for the soul of Scotland, tracing its roots from ancient pilgrimage routes to modern-day artistic endeavours

Richard Demarco’s personal odyssey, from his encounter with Terry Newman and Southampton College of Art to his profound connections with the Polish art world, forms the cornerstone of this narrative. As he reflects on the essence of the Edinburgh Festival, he

unveils a vision where Scotland’s cultural legacy transcends geographical boundaries, embracing the world.

Martine’s meticulously crafted essays encapsulate Scotland’s artistic landscape. through insightful reflections on Demarco’s journey, you are invited to ponder profound questions about identity, heritage and the transformative power of art.

A testament to the enduring spirit of creativity and the timeless quest for meaning that defines Scotland’s cultural heritage, this book serves as a poignant reminder of the country’s evolution into a global beacon of culture and enlightenment.

Reviews: 

About Demarco's Edinburgh:

The Edinburgh Festival of those days was a much more accessible village... The ground rules were well enough understood. Everything about it was containable. The Fringe was the seedbed for talent and ran happily in step with its established elders and betters.They both knew their place.

But then something equally remarkable was about to take place in the New Town of the city I knew and loved...

1947. The beginning of the Edinburgh Festival and Richard Demarco – later to become gallery director, artist and teacher – is at the heart of it and has been every year since.

The same year, Roddy Martine is born. In 1963, at the age of sixteen, he interviewed Sir Yehudi Menuhin and David Frost for an Edinburgh Festival magazine he edited, and the following year he met Marlene Dietrich.

Both Richard and Roddy have unique perspectives on the most remarkable international festival of the arts the world has ever known. They have witnessed its evolution over the years and are passionate believers in the power of creativity within everyone.

In this fascinating book, Richard – the 2013 UK recipient of the Citizen of Europe medal – explores the original world vision of Sir John Falconer and Rudolph Bing and, with Roddy, recalls the highs and lows of Edinburgh’s Festivals from a unique perspective.

Now in its eighth decade, can the Edinburgh Festival survive? 

Where do we go from here?

Reviews:

As well as being recognised internationally as an artist, Richard is equally recognised as the promoter of exhibitions and theatre events that have broken new ground in Britain and further beyond, to which the long list of his national and international awards and honours attests. His writing is as idiosyncratic and enthralling as his drawings, driven by true passion and belief, the personal account of an artist whose deeply rooted and abiding love for his native Scotland shines clearly in his words. RICHARD NOYCE

Everyone’s pride in the Festival’s achievements is tangible and infectious. NICOLA BENEDETTI, Festival Director on the Edinburgh Festivals

The Scottish artist Richard Demarco once said: "The Scots think of it as their capital; they're too possessive, Edinburgh belongs to the world." And following a recent visit to the Scottish capital, I can see what he means. MICHAEL MCCREADY, Belfast Telegraph

About the Author:

RICHARD DEMARCO is an artist and patron of the visual and performing arts. He has been one of Scotland’s most influential advocates for contemporary art through his work at the Richard Demarco Gallery and the Demarco European Art Foundation. He has attended every Edinburgh Festival since its inception in 1947, and he was a cofounder of the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in 1963. 

RODDY MARTINE is an author, journalist and broadcaster. He regularly works as a columnist on a wide range of newspapers and periodicals throughout the UK. Roddy is also the author of over twenty books.