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Illustration

The Glenfarclas whisky commission and the letters-home drawings: Robert Burns brought to life, and a rare glimpse of family life drawn from a North Sea oil rig.

The Burns illustrations

Tam o' Shanter and The Jolly Beggars, the series commissioned for the Glenfarclas 40 Year Old.

Bound in a Dungeon, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a kilted man chained to a ball in a vaulted dungeon — Bound in a Dungeon · The Jolly Beggars · Illustration

A Souple Jade, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of Nannie dancing among small red devils outside the Kirk of Alloway — A Souple Jade · Tam o' Shanter · Illustration

The Ale Was Growing Better, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of Tam and his companions drinking in the inn — The Ale Was Growing Better · Tam o' Shanter · Illustration

The Witch on the Cannon, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a witch astride a cannon outside the Kirk of Alloway — The Witch on the Cannon · Tam o' Shanter · Illustration

The Leap, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of Tam and Maggie leaping the bridge as a witch snatches at them — The Leap · Tam o' Shanter · Illustration

Old Nick in Shape o' Beast, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of the horned devil playing the bagpipes — Old Nick in Shape o' Beast · Tam o' Shanter · Illustration

The Old Soldier's Tales of War, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a one-legged soldier raising a bugle with cavalry behind him — The Old Soldier's Tales of War · The Jolly Beggars · Illustration

Whistle Owre the Lave o't, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of an old fiddler playing while dancers turn above him — Whistle Owre the Lave o't · The Jolly Beggars · Illustration

The Brig o' Doon, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of Maggie's leap across the bridge as a witch grasps her tail — The Brig o' Doon · Tam o' Shanter · Illustration

They Danced and They Sang, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of three beggars dancing above the neck of a fiddle — They Danced and They Sang · The Jolly Beggars · Illustration

Ne'er Poor Sinner Was Abroad, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of Tam and Maggie straining through driving rain — Ne'er Poor Sinner Was Abroad · Tam o' Shanter · Illustration

Letters home

Drawings from the illustrated letters Bruce sent his children from the North Sea. The story of the letters is told in the journal.

Sledging, two children racing downhill on sledges with the family deerhound tumbling after them, from an illustrated letter home by Bruce Thomson — Sledging · Letter home · Illustration

Winter Arrives, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a snowman blown sideways by a face in the clouds with a robin singing above — Winter Arrives · Letter home · Illustration

Snowstorm on the Family Home, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a face in the clouds blowing snow down onto a house on a hill — Snowstorm on the Family Home · Letter home · Illustration

Charlie and the Deerhound, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a small boy meeting a deerhound over a garden gate — Charlie and the Deerhound · Letter home · Illustration

Rabbits and Buzzards, rabbits playing in the grass while buzzards circle above, from an illustrated letter home by Bruce Thomson — Rabbits and Buzzards · Letter home · Illustration

Weather, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a grinning sun and a weeping rain cloud over a church spire — Weather · Letter home · Illustration

The Rabbit Catcher, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a woman lunging after a rabbit while the family deerhound watches — The Rabbit Catcher · Letter home · Illustration

Bee in the Rain, a bee sheltering under a blue umbrella above pink flowers, from an illustrated letter home by Bruce Thomson — Bee in the Rain · Letter home · Illustration

Wild Cherry Picking, a pan and colander piled with dark wild cherries, from an illustrated letter home by Bruce Thomson — Wild Cherry Picking · Letter home · Illustration

The Deerhound and the Biscuit, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a child holding a biscuit out of reach of a leaping deerhound — The Deerhound and the Biscuit · Letter home · Illustration

The Floating Rig, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of an oil rig in heavy seas with its flare burning and gulls overhead — The Floating Rig · Letter home · Illustration

Charlie Checks for Ghosts, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a boy in a doorway holding up a ghost tester as a ghost drifts past — Charlie Checks for Ghosts · Letter home · Illustration

The Family at Home, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a mother, two children and the family deerhound standing together — The Family at Home · Letter home · Illustration

Creatures Beneath the Rig, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of an oil rig above the waves with a mermaid, a frog and fish below — Creatures Beneath the Rig · Letter home · Illustration

Worm in the Rain, a worm sheltering under a bright umbrella among grass and flowers, from an illustrated letter home by Bruce Thomson — Worm in the Rain · Letter home · Illustration

Aaaa-tishoo!, an illustration by Bruce Thomson of a child sneezing hard enough to blow the family deerhound off its feet — Aaaa-tishoo! · Letter home · Illustration

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