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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Detail of my carving of the Birlinn of Clanranald from a 15/16th century Clanranald Graveslab on Iona.

David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

A pair of late medieval West Highland graveslabs carved in Angus sandstone. I don’t think they’ll be together long so I took the opporchancity to snap them in the Angus sunshine today. Killarow (Cill an Rubha) from Islay on the left, Killean (Cill Eathain) from Argyll.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Based on the exquisite late medieval graveslab at Killean in Argyll.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

A roughed out West Highland Birlinn carved in Portland limestone.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Replica of Kirriemuir #1 cross-slab. Who are the weird bird-headed men?

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

“The waves crash in and the tide pulls out It's an angry sea, but there is no doubt That the lighthouse will keep shining out To warn the lonely sailor” Sunday doodle of the Bell Rock lighthouse, 12 miles off Arbroath. I could use a week alone there, with sketchbook and pens.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

2nd ever attempt at acid-etching brass sheet turned out ok. Rocks rule but shiny stuff is ok too!

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

From the cross-slab at Eassie in Angus. Carved in Cop-Crag sandstone.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Yesterday was a cracking day to ring a replica early medieval handbell from a round tower. Happy 25th birthday to Abernethy Museum!

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

On the home straight, on the new Skinnet Cross on Easter Sunday.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

The original 16th century Lerags Cross, the 19th century rubbing of its unicorn, my drawing from the rubbing and my sandstone carving from my drawing.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Defiant unicorn from a 15/16th century cross-shaft at Kilbride in Argyll. I like his attitude.

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Reposted by David McGovern

The Pictish Arts Society @pictishartssociety.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

In today's Scotsman, our vice president @monikierockart.bsky.social calls for Historic Environment Scotland to conduct a 'full and open investigation' into how the Aberlemno III Pictish cross-slab came to topple over while inside its protective shelter.

scotsman.com

Pictish experts call for 'full and open' investigation into toppled 9th-century stone

The Aberlemno III toppled over in high winds - surrounded by the protective box that covers it in winter.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Side 2 finished on recreation of the Skinnet Cross-slab from Caithness. Scheduled for installation at Halkirk next month.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

A couple of Pictish doodles- the cross from Dyce and a double disk and z-rod from Rosemarkie.

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Reposted by David McGovern

Maxwell Frost @maxwellfrost.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

We are members of Congress at the Treasury Department. We want to be let in to provide oversight on behalf of our constituents. @jasmineforus.bsky.social @sethmagaziner.bsky.social

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Progress! Powering through some more interlace on the Skinnet Cross re-creation. #skinnettowinit #northernpilgrimsway

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

A stained glass window I have in my office. Presumably French, age unknown.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Using colour fills to check the interlace works on this reconstruction drawing for my carving of the Skinnet Cross.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

The lovely wee collection of Pictish sculpture at Inveravon. On a snowy day when you could just about get a car down the track to the Kirk.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

A bit of fun today, riffing on the Shandwick cross-slab and a bit of colour.

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Reposted by David McGovern

The Pictish Arts Society @pictishartssociety.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

From 1992 to 2008 the PAS published papers and articles in a journal. Until now they could only be read in the form of original paper copies. Now all 17 journals can be accessed online. Access is free for all. There's some real treasure in there... www.thepictishartssociety.org.uk/journals-1

thepictishartssociety.org.uk

Journals | The PAS

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Having drawn the Glenferness Pictish beastie, I had to carve it in sandstone.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

It’s got the lot- a bit of interlace, spirals, key pattern- Monifieth 2, carved in local sandstone yesterday.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

The magical burning of the Clavie in Burghead, Moray last night. Can you see the god-like face in the smoke? I think it might be Pan…

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Superb bitey beasties drawn from the Shandwick stone.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

First carving off the banker this year- based on a 13th century ivory chess piece from Skye. The original is 10cm or so tall and this mad thing is 34 cm tall and carved from Northumbrian sandstone. Not much known about its origins but seems a piece that may be from the same set is in the Vatican.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Last doodle of the year- a very Christmassy take on the Bullionfield Pictish chappie. Have a cool Yule!

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

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lendwithcare.org

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Colourised drawing of two clerics on the 10th c Camus Cross, Monikie, Angus.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Late medieval grave-slab of a Chief of Clanranald. In Honister green slate. 28cm. The colour of this exceptionally hard slate isn’t far off the chlorite schist of the original (in the cloisters of Iona Abbey).

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

The Birlinn of Clanranald. From the original grave-slab in the cloisters of Iona Abbey. Angus sandstone, 60cm tall.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

1885 electrotype with cabochons of the shrine for the bell of St Patrick from around 1100AD. The shrine held the 5th century bell reputed to have belonged to St Patrick. Being auctioned in Kilkenny with an opening bid of 3600Euro.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

The Garryduff gold bird. Cork Museum. A tiny thing- 1.5cm across. Thin gold foil with filigree applied. 6/7th century. A lovely wee wren.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Spending the afternoon in my happy place, with the fire on, listening to Van Morrison and drawing stuff.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

A lump of sea-worn Angus sandstone with a Morayshire interloper.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Beautiful stained glass by Morris and Co at St Rules Monifieth, now ‘The Culdee’. Highly recommended for coffee and cocktails…

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Back from oblivion- a pair of resurrected hippocamps from the Skinnet Cross. Thanks to old photos and photogrammetry. New Skinnet Cross being carved for the Northern Pilgrims Way.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Detail of Newgrange kerbstone (K67), hand-pecked this morning on a sea-worn piece of Angus whinstone.

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David McGovern @monikierockart.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Reconstructed interlace on a panel from St Orland’s stone, a Pictish cross-slab with a superabundance of hippocamps/s-beasts.

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