Tag Archives: Celtic designs

Celtic, Pictish and Rock Art Greeting Cards

Greeting cards, , , , , , , , , , , ,

ALL OF THESE DESIGNS ARE STRICTLY COPYRIGHT (2022, HATCHBURNCARVE).

Another episode of covid earlier this year found me unable to do much in the way of carving or practical work. However, I was keen to get back to drawing purely for pleasure and that was the ideal opportunity. I’ve amassed a whole box file and a number of drawing pads full of my own designs over the years, some of which I have used to carve slate and stone (and anyone who keeps up to date with my work may recognise some of the outlines of these animals).

‘Lepus Celestine’ (© 2022, HatchBurnCarve)

I’ve drawn four designs to date and plan to create a total of 12 Pictish/Celtic animals. Each design is hand drawn using Mircon, Uni-Pin and Pilot fine-liner drawing pens, and the cards have been beautifully reproduced by Pennybatch fine art printers based in Somerset. The cards measure 178 mm wide x 127 mm high (5″ x 7″ landscape) and are blank inside. They’re printed on 100% recycled matt card (300 gsm) with a 100% recycled Eco Kraft Brown envelope (115 gsm) wrapped in a cellophane bag.

‘Canis Major’ (© 2022, HatchBurnCarve)

‘Kellas Grampia’ (© 2022, HatchBurnCarve)

‘Torrs Horse’ (© 2022, HatchBurnCarve)

These are available to buy from my Etsy shop- just follow this link. They’re also currently available from the following shops/museums (with more outlets planned);

Detailed information on each of the designs;

Lepus Celestine (hare)

The outline of the hare was adapted from an original slate carving design I had drawn and the loose, free-flowing, internal design is influenced by Celtic and Pictish art. The hare leaps over cup-and-ring marks/rock art based on the carvings found at Cairnbaan in Kilmartin Glen, Argyll.

Canis Major (hound)

The outline of the hound was adapted from an original slate carving design I had drawn and the internal design is influenced by Pictish spirals, a Celtic triskelion and knot. Above the hound hangs the constellation of Canis Major reinterpreted as cup-and-ring marks/rock art. Below the hound sits the Canis Minor constellation as rock art.

Kellas Grampia (cat)

The outline of this cat was based on a slate memorial that I made earlier this year. The free-flowing internal design is based on Celtic triquetras, triskelions and Pictish spirals. The Kellas Cat was a Scottish mythological animal and remained so until a specimen was found in 1984. A hybrid between a domestic cat and the Scottish Wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia), it’s thought that a carving on the Class II Pictish stone found at Golspie may represent a Kellas Cat.

Torrs Horse

The outline of the horse was adapted from an original slate carving design I had drawn and the internal design is influenced by the Iron Age pony cap found at Torrs, near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway. Dating to around 250 BC, the elaborate decoration on this bronze chamfron has been described as one of the most important pieces of Iron Age art ever found in Britain. The design also includes Celtic knotwork, triquetras and triskelions.