SCOTTISH ARTIST STUDIO

Dundee : A Town of Change

Visitors to the Scottish Artist Studio come from every part of the world and most wish to know more about the city, its business, its history, the area and facilities that are on offer for leisure, relaxation and enjoyment, the weather, and general tourist information.
The Scottish Artist Studio enjoys panoramic views south over the river Tay towards Fife and the Lomond hills.
This page with relevant links outlines the major features of Dundee city and the east of Scotland.

Dundee is Scotland's fourth largest city and sits on the bank of the River Tay where it flows out into the north sea. It joins Fife in the south by two very long bridges for road and railway.
It has long sandy beaches along its coast, ideal for the many links golf courses and is perfectly placed for fishing, horse riding, exploring castles and in easy reach for hill walking, ski-ing and touring the Scottish highlands.

Dundee City is undergoing massive changes brought about by a major shift from jute industry and shipping to education and biotechnology. This has had a knock on effect on population and the need for leisure facilities.

The population may have dropped statistically from 180,000 to 142,000 within the city boundaries but taking in the expansion in all the surrounding villages, where many Dundonians now choose to live, the population is nearer 300,000. The student population is very high at a ratio of 1 in 7.
Dundee now receives very many visitors on study leave and academics on research projects for the University, the Scottish Crops Research Institute in Invergowrie, and Ninewells hospital. Hotels and guest houses have expanded to meet this need.

The infrastructure has also developed to allow for the growth of student numbers, conference centres, hotels and shopping.
However, Dundee is not so big as Glasgow or Edinburgh so life runs at a slower pace with less traffic problems, cheaper housing and lower cost of living and it is a great place to be for a stress free life.

Dundee Local Weather Forecast
Local weather patterns give Dundee a very favourable microclimate with low rainfall levels and plenty sunshine, creating Scotland's sunniest city.
You can find the weather forecast for Dundee today on this link to Dundee weather.

History of Dundee

A small settlement began on the banks of the River Tay below an extinct volcano in the 11th century, and slowly expanded. The small town was twice razed to the ground in times of war, but recovered.
Dundee celebrated its octocentenary year in 1991, so officially we are now 817 years old. A print was published to celebrate this event and some copies are still available, see this link at City Centre in winter.

Whaling
Dundee became a major port in the 19th century with whaling ships suppling an ever increasing demand for whale oil for lamps and candles in early Victorian Britain. Dundee shipyards were so skilled in shipbuilding especially ships fitted for Arctic seas that they were commissioned to build the Royal Research Ship - RRS Discovery which took Captain Scott to the Antarctic. Launched in 1901 the RRS Discovery was returned to Dundee in 1986 to the delight of the people who proudly lined the streets in anticipation. It is now the centrepiece at the award winning Discovery Point in Dundee.

Jute Industry
The jute industry also developed in the 19th century to service the need for hessian products for ships sails and jute sacks to carry goods, and in its heyday over one third of the population of Dundee worked in the jute mills, though these were mainly women. Much of this labour came from Ireland, but wages were very low and working conditions hard, very dangerous, dirty and noisy. many children were employed as cheap labour.

The skyline of Dundee is dominated by Cox's Stack built by the jute barons the Cox brothers who were a major employer in the city at this time. In 1998 the last jute mill closed in the city but visitors to Dundee can be transported back to experience a working jute mill by visiting Verdant Works.

Jam and Soft Fruit Growing
Marmalade was introduced to this area in the late 1700's by the Keillor family who exported it all over the world. They later branched into jam making using locally grown raspberries and strawberries.
The Carse of Gowrie was a rich flat area of alluvial soil on the banks of the River Tay and perfect for fruit production. Apples, plums and pears were once grown to supply local markets, however in the early 20th century the orchards were removed to make way for the growing of soft fruits, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants and more recently blueberries.

The raspberry triangle was created from the fruit areas between Blairgowrie, Perth and Dundee, though fruit fields were also extensive around Alyth, Coupar Angus and further north.
Until 1998 the fruit was grown in the open fields, picked during a short season from June to mid August by local pickers.

Today modern growing methods using polytunnels protects the crop and extends the season from early May to late autumn. New varieties, for example the late variety raspberry Glen Ample and Glen Clova have been bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute in Invergowrie near Dundee who continue to lead the field in developing soft fruits with excellent flavour and disease resistance for the retail market and the keen gardener.

Journalism
D C Thomson established a printing business in 1905 bringing local, national and international news to Dundee and the north east of Scoland.
Their newspapers; The Courier, The Sunday Post and Evening Telegraph in particular are widely read throughout Dundee, and Scotland.
Newspapers and magazines also bring Scotland alive to Scots living abroad, and the very popular D C Thomson publication The Scots Magazine is read worldwide by those who like to keep in touch with news, Scottish history, and culture.
Loved by children and adults alike Oor Wullie has just celebrated his 70th birthday. Oor Wullie, The Broons, The Dandy, The Beano and womens magazines including the Peoples Friend and My Weekly are all published by D.C. Thomson.

John Stoa is now writing a gardening page for the Courier in the lifestyle Supplement every Tuesday.

Business and Education

New industries emerged such as Mitchelin and digital media technology, however, it is the expansion of the universities and the focus on Research and Development in biotechnology and medicine which has made a major impact on the city.

Research and development and education are carried out by Dundee and Abertay Universities focusing on life and environmental sciences, wood and water technology, computer art and digital entertainment, statistics, and training of doctors, dentists and nurses.
Ninewells Hospital, has over twenty teams working in the field of Cancer Research.
The University also maintain the Dundee Botanical Gardens, and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art also comes under the umbrella of the University of Dundee.

The Scottish Crops Research Institute at Invergowrie focus on research into pest, disease, weeds and environmental and health improvements in a range of important Scottish crops including barley, potatoes, raspberries and blackcurrants. They have bred improved new varieties of raspberries , blackcurrants and many other fruit and vegetables for use in UK and worldwide.

Leisure

Dundee is very well placed for a wide range of leisure pursuits. Being coastal and having a dry sunny climate it benefits from miles of beautiful sandy beaches from Broughty Ferry to Carnoustie and over the River Tay Tentsmuir beach is huge and sheltered by a mature pine forest and very popular for a woodland or beach walk and picnics.

Going inland the Angus glens are a haven for hill walkers, intent on bagging a few Munroes.

Golfers are spoilt for choice from council run golf courses at Camperdown and Caird Park to the private Downfield Golf Club all within the city boundaries. Close by there is golf courses at Carnoustie, Alyth Blairgowrie, Piperdam and of course the world famous St Andrews Golf Course.


Fishing is also very popular along the River Tay and other smaller rivers as well as sea angling out in the north Sea. Angling in Tayside website has full information on this outdoor activity.

Other activities are also covered including swimming, skating, bowling, leisure centres, horse riding, tennis etc.

Visual and creative entertainment is provided by two theatres, the excellent Dundee Rep Theatre fondly known as the REP and the Whitehall Theatre which features musicals and shows hosted by amateur dramactic groups. There are several cinemas, a museum, public and private art galleries, and many classes and courses run by the Technical College, Dundee council and private organisations.

Places to visit in and around Dundee will include the R.R.S. Discovery tall ship, built in Dundee which took Captain Scott to the Antarctic before it's return to Dundee in 1988, Verdant Works, which shows what went on at the jute mills, now just a memort for many residents, Mills Observatory, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Lawhill, Dundee's extinct volcano with fantastic views of the city, the River Tay and surrounding hills beyond, and numerous castles from Claypotts Castle to Broughty Ferry castle and only a short journey away is the world famous Glamis Castle.