The Herald, in proud partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland, is inviting everyone to enter their most accomplished photographic work in a new competition which celebrates the launch of a stunning new £5 banknote design.
The new note is the result of the bank’s recent engagement with thousands of people across the country who chose ‘The Fabric of Nature’ as the set’s overarching theme.
By submitting the single best example of their work, entrants have a chance of winning an overnight stay at Cromlix House, £100 photography vouchers, a piece of original artwork from the ‘Fabric of Nature’ design process and also a lesson with a Herald photographer.
The best entry will be announced at a celebratory event at the bank’s historic home at St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh on October 6 with the overall winner’s work then uploaded to heraldscotland.com for all to appreciate.
To enter, email royalbanknote@heraldandtimes.co.uk with your photo attached, together with your name, age, address and daytime telephone number. Closing date for entries is Friday, September 16. Editor’s decision is final.
#RoyalBankNote
A celebration of Scotland
Contemporary, forward-thinking, beautiful Scotland – midges and all – is celebrated on the Royal Bank of Scotland’s new £5 note which is launched on October 27.
The opportunity to design a brand new Scottish banknote does not come along very often, as creative director Rebekka Bush – the woman driving the project since its inception – explained.
“It’s about every forty years, we believe, so I was delighted to be able to do it,” smiled Rebekka. “From the beginning, we wanted to involve our customers because we felt very strongly that it’s the people of Scotland who should determine how they are represented on their own money.”
Rebekka worked closely with Scottish design agency Nile and months and months of research, workshops, online forums and polling surveys involved thousands of people across the country.
Rebekka said: “What came across very strongly was a desire to replace the old-fashioned ‘tartan-and-stags’ image of Scotland with something much less twee that more accurately represents modern, forward-thinking Scotland.
“I hope people will agree that we have come up with something exciting which brings all of Scotland’s different elements – nature, light, weather, humour and history – together in a fresh way.”
The theme underpinning the new set of polymer notes, of which the £5 is the first to be launched, is ‘Fabric of Nature’ and the face on the front is author Nan Shepherd, whose book The Living Mountain inspired people to see the Scottish landscape in different ways.
Behind the portrait sits a picture of the Cairngorms, celebrated by Shepherd in her writing, and a quote from The Living Mountain.
The reverse of the note features two mackerel, the single most valuable stock for the Scottish fishing industry, and an excerpt from the poem, The Choice, by Sorley MacLean. There are also midges, and images of tweed and woad, a historic plant used to create the blue dye in tweed.
At the launch of a photography competition to mark the arrival of the new notes, Chairman of the bank’s Scottish Board Malcolm Buchanan, said:
“The people of Scotland decided that the image of Nan Shepherd should grace Royal Bank of Scotland’s new £5 note. It is therefore only right that the launch should celebrate her greatest love – the country that surrounded her.
“It was the spectacle of the Cairngorms and the colour of the North East that enchanted Nan.”
He added: “As the #RoyalBankNote competition unfolds over the next four weeks I can’t wait to see what leaves others moved. So whether you use a camera phone or an SLR, think about what Scotland means to you and get snapping.”
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