So June feels like a distant memory already. I think I was mainly a social recluse, working at photographing some weddings and painting nearly every surface in my flat at least twice.

July has been busy and lush. I’m organising the next residents exhibition and some evening events for it as part of The Drill Hall’s 30th birthday celebrations. It feels amazing as I moved in a year ago and set up for my first resident exhibition the very next day. I was so shy of my work I didn’t even speak to anyone about it on the launch night. Fast forward a year and I’m running the show. We’ve got some fun ideas to keep it interesting.

I’ve also got a solo exhibition at the same time elsewhere in September so it’s good busy. I’m not juggling as many things like an insane person as I was last year and every year. Leaving space to explore and collaborate and to actually be present on holiday instead of panicking about all the stuff at home I should be doing.

I took my kid to Spain and had moments of pure sensory joy, topless snorkelling in the crystal clear sea with little blue fish and the patterns of the sun from the surface of the waves shining on the sand. I taught him how to shamelessly rob our lunches from the ‘don’t take food out of the room’ breakfast buffet so we could have a blow out on eat steak and lobster in our pjs at a place on the seafront. Good times.

Despite the Grey Gardens hermit vibe I did catch a couple of arts. Had lots of fun exploding blue ink all over myself at Sett Studios with Hailey Beavis at a collage workshop she did for her Soft exhibiton. The Neuk Perspectives show at Patriothall was ace and I managed to see Agitate’s show, Another Weeping Woman by Diana Sosnowska. Big Paris Texas vibes.

August is school holidays, a little shooting, getting naked in the woods with Jannica Honey (more about that once the bug bites fade a wee bit) and I’ve some work in a group show at the International Photography Gallery in Glasgow. Also been back with the lovelies at Aetla for their festival exhibition launch party (on till 26th and it’s beautiful). I’ve got a beautiful East Lothian beach wedding to shoot and a couple of portrait sessions.

I’m catching up on all the music that I’ve missed in my reclusive state, went to see W.I.T.C.H and it was maybe the sweatiest and most joyful gig I can remember. I’m also soon revisiting my favourite festival, Green Man. There’s heaps of art festival stuff i want to see and a we bit of comedy but I tend to find the festivals and fringe totally overwhelming.

I’m now sharing my work on instagram across 3 pages again but I think it makes sense this time round. @edinburghelopements for all my wedding and elopement photography and local elopement design stuff, @solencollet for events, brand work and promo portraits and @solornothing for rants, epiphanies and meltdowns. Keep in touch.x