The first time I visited Dr Neil’s Garden, I took a sharp intake of breath – it was such a surprise. Located next to the ancient Duddingston church and just along from The Sheep’s Heid (both reputedly the oldest in Scotland) this is a fragrant oasis of green calm.
Duddingston Loch viewed from Dr Neils Garden
Mature trees, terraces of flower beds, shrubs, tumbling wild roses, paths, ponds, bridges, benches and urns all lead you down to the side of Duddingston Loch – a bird sanctuary and freshwater loch where Thomsons Tower is located, this being the venue for my next group exhibition. You can have a look at some of the work I’ll be displaying here.
View through lavender to Duddingston Loch
The garden is the creation of Drs Andrew and Nancy Neil born 1919 and 1921 respectively. They pretty much started the garden from scratch. This was formerly an area of glebe land, known as The Calves Field. When they lost their allotment to a car park, this came up as an opportunity for the garden-loving doctors to start something new.
They both knew the benefits of being active and out in nature and although this was at the outset a private garden, they invited both friends and patients to actively participate in its creation, working into the long light summer evenings. Now, over sixty years later, Dr Neil’s Garden Trust, continues their labour of love. You can read more about the garden on their website : https://www.drneilsgarden.co.uk/
Thomson’s Tower in April
Bergenia – sketch of one of the many flowering plants in April
Back to our exhibition; four of us artists have hired the ground floor of Thomson’s Tower for a week from 11-17th May 2026. Thomsons Tower is an octagonal two-storey building designed by architect William Playfair in 1823 for the Duddingston Curling Society. The lower floor was designed open to the elements and was used to store the curling stones and keep them at the outdoor temperature. Upstairs has a fireplace and windows with some great views over the loch from where people could watch the activities in the warm. It is now available to hire as an exhibition space.
L to R Janette Sumner, Margaret and Duncan Findlay and myself, Ronnie Cruwys, in front of Duddingston Loch
This is a loch that you may recognise from the famous painting by Henry Raeburn – the one that appears on Christmas cards from time to time – ‘The Skating Minister’ – he’s skating on this very loch!
The Skating Minister by Henry Raeburn – the original is on permanent display at the National Gallery in Edinburgh
The exhibition opens on Monday 11th May at 2pm till 5pm, then daily 10-5 until Sunday 17th May. We’re having a ‘Meet the Artist’ event on Saturday 16th 2-5pm, when all four of us will be there. Hope to see you there!
Ronnie 🙂