A Kirkcaldy schoolboy’s poem is being projected on an Edinburgh landmark to celebrate Burns Night.
Nathan Earnshaw, 12, won a competition to be part of the Message from the Skies event involving some of Scotland’s leading artists, designers, musicians and writers.
His poem, a love letter to Europe as the UK prepares to leave the union, will be beamed daily on the National Monument of Scotland on Calton Hill.
The Balwearie High School pupil was one of only three children to win the creative writing competition run by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
Nathan said it was an amazing experience to see his piece, Paris, on the iconic structure, where it will be beamed until January 25.
He said: “My poem first came to mind after thinking about some key themes, such as love for Europe and peace.
“This little idea slowly grew into what I could call my finished poem.
“The fact that I was chosen, out of all the other entries, made me feel extremely overjoyed.
“I’ve never felt so good. Message from the Skies has inspired me to keep writing.”
Nathan was introduced to the competition by his religious and moral education teacher.
The winners’ pieces are projected on key buildings in the capital from 4.30pm to 5pm, followed by letters by Chris Ramaswamy, Kapka Kassabova, Louise Welsh, Stef Smith, William Dalrymple and William Letford.
Message from the Skies, supported by Creative Scotland, is a celebration of Scotland’s shared cultural, historic and social connections with Europe.
Underbelly for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the Edinburgh International Book Festival have worked with the writers to bring their letters to life for projection on structures including the Tron Kirk.
Message from the Skies, which runs nightly until 10pm until January 25, was inspired by the Robert Burns poem Sketch New Year’s Day. To Mrs Dunlop.
Ben Macpherson, Minister of Europe, Migration and International Development, said: “Scotland’s ties with our European friends and neighbours stretch back many centuries.
“This initiative reflects those ties of friendship, business, culture and commerce – strong ties that the Scottish Government is determined to see endure, whatever the new year holds in terms of the Brexit process.”
