🌝 I was over the moon (couldn't resist) to see the lunar art installation at Carlisle Cathedral contrasted with the heraldry, stars & angels that adorn the amazing ceiling.

🎌 As it is World Vexillology Day I thought I would share both an international inspired flag design and an international flag form; a Japanese nobori flag featuring my Kamon inspired emblazonment of the Scottish lion rampant.

I was honoured to be invited back to my old College and participate in a panel discussion as part of this last weekend's anniversary celebrations of their Sixth Form status. I also had a little surprise to gift to the College and Principal for the occasion as well.

Always a pleasure to see new emblazonments of my arms by other artists, this one having been done by David Robert Wooten in his book 'Illacerstrationes Heraldicæ'. It is particularly nice to see my arms here amongst those of so many others all done in this fun & clear style.

⏱️ Found this beautiful Victorian Dumfries-made pocket watch and had it restored to working order. However, I have some further, heraldic plans for it. It's just a matter of time...

🪶🪶🪶 You can see from the three feathers in the caps, that the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire & I are surrounded by several clan chiefs at last Friday's @realclanhunter Gathering.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤝🏻🇯🇵 It was a great privilege to be invited to talk on the heraldic systems of both nations this weekend at JetAA Scotland's Japan-Scotland Community Cultural Festival 2026, and a particular honour to have the Consul-General of Japan in Edinburgh in the audience.

🇯🇵🤝🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Delighted to share that I've been asked to talk on 'The Distinct Differences and Surprising Similarities between Japanese & Scottish Heraldry' at next months JETAA Scotland's Japan-Scotland Community Cultural Festival

👻 "Don't cross the streams"... have them "in saltire" instead on Ghostbusters Day today! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Inspired by Dan Aykroyd's comments about the potential of future Ghostbuster stories being set in Scotland, I thought it would be fun to try and create a Scottish version of the logo.

🦄🦁🐲 In the latest example of heraldry rubbing off on my daughter, without any encouragement from me, she's assembled a main fighting team of heraldic creatures - Unicorn, Lion & Dragon - in her new videogame!

🎌 Last Friday the Lord Lyon hosted the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh at The Court of the Lord Lyon and I was delighted to play a small role as the Court's Honorary Vexillologist by providing a flag to be displayed for the occasion.

This display of coats of arms and flags could well have been one of the most colourful sights amongst the already incredibly colourful Edinburgh Tartan Parade! A very stirring image from a celebratory occasion.

🦄 When asked to make a Scottish information poster at school earlier this year my Unicorn mad daughter made one all about Scotland's national animal, which I thought I'd share for National Unicorn Day.

My very talented mother-in-law has made a custom bag for carrying my uniform baton to and from duty. Fittingly made from Border Tartan, my wife then also added the March Pursuivant badge as a finishing touch. A wonderfully symbolic accessory that will be handed down to future holders of the office.

🛡️ A day may come of shattered shields... "But it is not this day!" No, this is #TolkienReadingDay !

🇳🇿 Not an especially heraldic flower, but with their vexillological inspired name 'Blue Ensign', these Pulmonaria have certainly flagged the arrival of spring for this March!

🚭 For No Smoking Day I thought I'd share this heraldic version of the anti-smoking symbol that I once whipped up as a tongue in cheek experiment; shown here pressed into service at a Heraldry Society of Scotland event. Thanks to @bob.omg.lol for the photograph.

As it is the Birthday of the Emperor of Japan, I thought today would be a good opportunity to showcase the royal Scottish arms as emblazoned in a Japanese monshō influenced style Warmest wishes to the Emperor and the Japanese nation on this day 🎌

My emblazonment of the county of Aarhus' original banner of arms, posted today in honour of the 20th anniversary of arriving there to start my Erasmus placement at @aarhusuniint.bsky.social

Kinross-shire has launched a consultation about potentially running a flag design competition. The survey is looking for people - all people but especially those from the county and surrounding areas - to input through the link below

The Flag Institute@flaginstitute.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Share your views: a community flag for Kinross-shire? kinross.cc/flag/

Whilst giving is always better than receiving, as per my last post, it is nonetheless very nice to get a heraldic gift. This Christmas I was touched to get these hand painted emblazonments from @bob.omg.lol

It's always better to give than receive; heraldic gifts too. This year I used my daughter's love of Arthuriana as the excuse! A Guinevere-esque portrait by Luke Anderson and her first heraldry book - a King Arthur Armorial - which I'll have to see if I can borrow from her myself!

Given our work with symbols it was a privilege to be invited to yesterday's event on the anniversary of the Lockerbie Bombing and witness the laying of emblems by those organisations that responded to the disaster.

A festive and moving vexillological display in this Christmas wreath - which I was delighted to see when visiting the Lockerbie Memorial Church Museum recently - featuring the national flags of those nations who lost people in the bombing of PAA103

Yesterday's St Andrews Day saw the sun really shine for what was also the 60th anniversary of the monument to the Saltire in its legendary birthplace of Athelstaneford. Hopefully a good omen for the Scottish Flag Trust's appeal to support a replacement.

I thought #doctorwhoday would be a good occasion to display my monshō inspired heraldic artists mark, owing to its slight resemblance to the 'Seal of Rassilon' symbol used by the founder of Time Lord society. (Whilst coincidental I did spot the similarity early on and was happy to run with it) 1/7

My voluntary community flag work and heraldic projects have kept me very busy this last year - and will, of course, be something I continue - but I am pleased to be back in employment, having started with Babcock today, supporting the industry & defence of the nation

For #InternationalArtistsDay I wanted to share a recent commission, and it felt particularly apt to display this one which is the first to include my own artist mark, which the patron of this piece had encouraged me to develop.

Seen here in Australian skies is a special type of flag used by Scottish Clan Chiefs, known as a pinsel, which may be flown in a Chief's absence by a delegated representative.

Berwickshire hosted a commemoration for the Burning of the Merse during the Rough Wooing this weekend in the village of Whitsome. A symbolic pyre was lit that evening. A fitting and evocative end to a thought proving day of remembrance and reconciliation.