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Private Notes
Ian Rankin, Britain's bestselling crime writer, spends a day with Jack Vettriano, Scotland's most successful painter. Both men grew up in the shadow of Fife's collieries and now enjoy an international reputation and considerable wealth. Rankin's books have been translated into 22 languages and Vettriano sells more prints than Monet or Van Gogh.
Starting in Vettriano's home in Kirkcaldy and ending up in Edinburgh, Artworks Scotland brought the two friends together to talk about success, snobbery and sex.
One of Scotland's best-loved comediennes and one of the country's most acclaimed crime writers might seem an odd couple, but Karen Dunbar and Denise Mina are firm friends. Karen graduated from Chewin' the Fat to starring in her own TV series and Glasgow's top panto. Denise's seven novels have won several awards and been translated into 15 languages. The pair spend a day together discussing life and work, comparing piercings and drinking far too much coffee.
Irvine Welsh first met Bobby Gillespie when the latter offered the services of his band Primal Scream on the soundtrack of the film of Trainspotting. Since then they have collaborated on music videos and a controversial football anthem, and enjoyed the occasional night on the town. Artworks Scotland brought them together in Bobby's studio to discuss creativity, hard work and their greatest hits, and to look back at some of their old television appearances.
Scottish designer Christopher Kane is one of fashion's brightest stars and he's still only 26. Working with his sister Tammy, Kane has created a stir with a string of small-scale collections but now needs to turn his name into a global brand. Artworks Scotland gets exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Kane's highly anticipated London Fashion Week show and charts Donatella Versace's attempts to lure him to Italy to work for her.
Will Christopher's creative flair and Tammy's business skills be enough for the Kanes to buck the recession?
Series focusing on contemporary Scottish art. Artworks travels with novelist Alexander McCall Smith from his home town of Edinburgh to Gaborone in Botswana to see the people and places which have influenced his bestselling books. With contributions from famous fans including Anthony Minghella, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and former First Minister Jack McConnell.
As the Glasgow School of Art celebrates the centenary of the opening of its remarkable home, Artworks Scotland tells the story behind Charles Rennie Mackintosh's internationally acclaimed building, with contributions from some of the school's best-known graduates.
Fondly referred to as The Mack, the building sealed Charles Rennie Mackintosh's reputation as one of the most innovative and creative Scots of the 20th century and established him as a pioneer of Modernism. The School of Art has recently been voted the best British building of the past 175 years in a poll organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Contributors including Peter Howson, David Shrigley and Muriel Gray testify to the extraordinary impact the building has had on their creative lives. This one-off documentary, narrated by Daniela Nardini, includes songs specially written by Glasgow bands Sexy Kids and Frightened Rabbit, that both emerged from the school.
As classical music star Donald Runnicles returns to Scotland as chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Artworks Scotland goes behind the scenes to find out what makes a great maestro and what life is like in the ranks of one of the world's top orchestras.
Opening with Runnicles' farewell performance as music director of the prestigious San Francisco Opera, this documentary reveals the usually private process of rehearsal as he prepares his new orchestra for an appearance at the largest classical music festival in the world, the BBC Proms in London.
For a year, the children of Raploch, a council estate in Stirling, have been at the heart of an experiment. They have been taught to play classical stringed instruments in an attempt to transform their lives.
The idea comes from Venezuela where many thousands of children from poor backgrounds have benefited from free tuition and some have gone on to join world-class orchestras.
This heart-warming film follows six professional musicians charged with introducing dozens of freedom-loving kids to the discipline of making music as they create a brand new orchestra.
The one-time bad boy of British ballet Michael Clark returned to the Edinburgh Festival in 2009 for the first time in over twenty years. In his new show, he danced to the music of Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and David Bowie. The programme follows him during the rehearsals and also, his trip to Venice, where he pays homage to two of his other heroes - Igor Stravinksy and Sergei Diaghilev.
ArtWorks Scotland investigates the global phenomenon that is Auld Lang Syne. Robert Burns's most famous song is sung all round the world but even in Scotland few people know the origins of the words and music, or the remarkable story of how it has travelled so far.
Set against the background of last year's Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, the film includes contributions from Phil Cunningham and Libby McArthur, and performances of Auld Lang Syne by Moby, The Proclaimers and Eddi Reader.
