ONE OF Scotland’s very first tourism guides is being researched and recreated by a Perthshire artist.

For two years, photographer Jo Cound has been researching Scotia Depicta, a book of etchings meant as an early guide to places of interest in Scotland, first printed in 1804.

“My mum works in a re- cycling station in England and this book had been thrown out by somebody,” she said.

“Eventually, it came to be given to me, and I thought it was amazing—especially the etchings, which are beautiful.

“I’m originally from the Midlands, but am a bit of a ‘Scotlandaholic,’ so when I realised the book was meant as a tourism guide, I began to wonder whether the places still existed.”

The original publication of Scotia Depicta was born from a collaboration between writer John Stoddart and British artist John Claude Nattes, who travelled the length and breadth of the country together gathering information.

Five years later, an etcher named James Fitter made detailed etchings of the artwork created by Nattes, and these went on to appear in the book.

A small amount of copies were reprinted in 1819.

Stoddart and Nattes visited 48 locations in Scotland, and Jo decided to apply to the English Arts Council to research and recreate the book in order to fit in with modern times.

After receiving the funding in 2004, Jo embarked upon a journey of Scotland, seeking out the places mentioned in the book and attempting to recreate the images etched by Fitter over 200 years ago.

“Nobody really knows much about the book,” she said. “Most of the places I visited were not aware they were even featured in the publication.

“Only one lady at Monzie Castle has a copy of Scotia Depicta from 1819.”

Jo has now managed to gather all of the photographs she requires, but she is still puzzling over the reasons why each place was selected.

“I would have expected some place like Dundee to feature, as St Andrews, Perth and Aberdeen appeared in the guide.

“The men were obviously travelling in the area as they visited places such as Doune Castle and Elcho Castle in Perthshire, Leslie House in Fife and Brechin Castle—but I have no idea why they by-passed Dundee.

“Perhaps it has something to do with accessibility, but I’m still learning as I go. The selection appears to have been quite random.

“For example, Stirling Castle isn’t mentioned, yet the Trossachs and Glencoe are. The locations also appear to go from places of interest to caverns and caves off the beaten track—and some were quite difficult to find!”

Jo has kept a journal of her experiences and is hoping one of the three publishers that have expressed an interest in her project will print an updated version of the book, showing comparative before and after images.