The designer who wants new Aberdeen stadium to be named the Rowie Arena

By Andy Morton

June 5 2022, 6:00 am

Mark Elrick is Aberdeen FC's artist in chief and the inventor or the iRowie.

Graphic designer Mark Elrick loves a well-fired rowie.

So much so that he used one as inspiration for a uniquely north-east mobile-phone cover design.

In this week’s Me and My Buttery, we speak to Mark about his rowie-inspired case – called, of course, the iRowie – and his other creations sparked by north-east bakers.

We also learn about Mark’s favourite rowie recipe courtesy of his job as Aberdeen FC’s artist-in-residence, and his idea for a new stadium name.

Mark makes a call with his iRowie mobile phone cover.

Hello, Mark. Thanks for talking to Me and My Buttery. Where did the idea for the iRowie come from?

I’d seen pizza designs in New York and I got to thinking, what could I do that would be something to do with the north-east, with Aberdeen? Rowies were the first thing that came to mind.

So I bought a rowie from Aitkens on John Street, took some photos, and then created one. When it was printed out, it looked amazing. I had to make sure the colour was right.

What was it about the colour?

You need that golden brown colour. You can tell from the colour if it will be a good rowie or a bad one. It has to be well-fired – on the edge of cremation.

What other rowie designs have you done?

A while ago I did some Aitkens bakery T-shirts and some screen prints, but after the controversy with the bakery I ditched them pretty quickly.

I was on holiday in Lanzarote once though and I saw a boy wearing one of the shirts. It was definitely one of mine – no one else was doing those.

Now the question we ask everyone – how do you like your butteries? Or rowies, if you prefer.

I like them crispy rather than doughy. And just with a bit of jam, really.

During lockdown I had a recipe. [Radio presenter and Aberdeen fan] Richard Gordon actually sent me the recipe, which is meant to be the Aitkens authentic recipe to make my own. They were fine, but I prefer someone else to make them for me.