A Fine Art Collectible Limited Edition 3D Facsimile
PRESS - THE ARBROATH HERALD
The Arbroath Herald covered the story in its Friday, 7 April 2017 edition.
Written by Johnston Ralston, the article recorded the early public launch of the Declaration of Arbroath 3D Facsimile project, shortly after the first completed pieces had been created.
This page is kept as part of the archive and provenance of the project, showing how the facsimile was first presented to the public in 2017.
Is this the real thing?
Artist known as 'Tartan Artisan' recreates Declaration of Arbroath
By Johnston Ralston - johnston.ralston@jpress.co.uk - @HeraldJohnston
The Arbroath Herald described how Arbroath artist Steven Patrick Sim, known as The Tartan Artisan, had created a three-dimensional fine-art facsimile inspired by one of Scotland’s most important historical documents.
The project was undertaken with permission from the National Records of Scotland, using high-resolution source imagery of the surviving Declaration of Arbroath.
The facsimile was developed through digital reconstruction, fine-art giclée printing, specialist laser cutting and hand assembly, with the surviving seal details recreated as miniature high-resolution fine-art reproductions.
Steven Patrick Sim pictured at Arbroath Abbey with the Declaration of Arbroath Facsimile
© Andy Thompson Photography / ATIMAGES
Ultra-modern take
on historical document
A local artist has been inspired to recreate the almost 700-year-old Declaration of Arbroath using ultra-modern techniques.
Steven Patrick Sim, also known as The Tartan Artisan, obtained permission to undertake the project from the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh.
With the aid of a high-resolution image he was able to take exacting measurements and digitally reassemble the medieval document which was in turn sent to a specialist laser cutter to be made from fine art paper and then finally hand-assembled by Steven.
Even the Declaration’s 19 surviving wax seals are reproduced as high-resolution miniature fine art giclée reproductions.
Steven’s work has been turned into a limited edition fine art collectible and he plans to produce 100 life size and 1320 slightly smaller versions.
It has been a real labour of love for him after being inspired by UNESCO’s decision to make the Declaration a ‘Memory of the World’ last year.
He said: “It’s been something that I’ve always been aware of, having lived in Arbroath all my life, and the Declaration has been in the background. It’s only just recently, with the creation of my Declaration tartan, that it’s come to the foreground for me.
‘‘I’d always hoped to do some significant tribute to the Declaration as a piece of art and it has evolved over a period of time.
“When the Declaration was made a UNESCO memory that was the catalyst for me to be inspired.
“The 3D reproduction has been a privilege for me to produce and I feel like it’s something really special. It’s almost like a mark in history that will remain long after I’m gone.”
Response online to the piece has also been encouraging.
He continued: “I’m very pleased about it, I put my heart and soul into every single one I created and the response has been phenomenal.
“On Sunday a lady came down from Aberdeen and her mouth fell open when she saw it.
‘‘She couldn’t believe it, it was much more than she thought, she was stunned.
“I’m very honoured to have been given the opportunity to do this. To get permission from the National Records of Scotland to produce this piece of art was a privilege.’’
Steven Patrick Sim
Steven Patrick Sim
- with the life-size prototype of the Declaration of Arbroath 3D Facsimile.
This early prototype became part of the development of the limited-edition fine-art facsimiles, reproduced with permission kindly granted by the National Records of Scotland.
Photograph by Drew Porch, taken at the official photo-shoot on 3 April 2017, in the grounds of Arbroath Abbey.