A teenager who regularly walks past a dilapidated Aberdeen landmark has been inspired to use her artistic skills to demonstrate how it could be transformed.
Harriet Dawson brought together the huge potential of the historic Westburn House on paper and hopes her artwork will encourage people to aid efforts to restore the grade A listed building.
Aberdeen landmark poised for new lease of life as campaigners take control
The 17-year-old St Margaret’s pupil has now won a school competition with the painting.
She said: “I decided to paint the picture because every day on my daily walk I pass the ruined house in the park, and I had heard that a group was being set up to restore the house to its former glory.
“I decided to paint the house restored as a cafe, which I think would encourage more people to go to the park regularly, as it would create a wonderful little spot for people to meet up.”
Mum Dana Dawson said it was “heartbreaking” to see the house every day after watching the Archibald Simpson creation deteriorate in front of their eyes for the past 10 years.
She added: “It’s about trying to raise awareness and help as it has been left in such a ruin.
“We want to help restore the house to its former glory so we can all enjoy it.”
The structure was built in 1839.
The land on which it stands was originally owned by David Chalmers, a former
editor of the Aberdeen Journal, who commissioned Simpson to design Westburn House.
The building has since had many uses, serving as a home, a tea room and a nursery until it was abandoned about 20 years ago.
Although £1 million revamp plans were put forward in 2004, ultimately the proposals to convert it into a new office for the city’s registrars amounted to nothing.
And in 2016, councillors approved plans for the Elgin-based company Liberty Kids to turn it into a nursery, but again, the plans proved unsuccessful.
Other community take-overs in the city in recent years include the Bonnymuir bowling green and Victoria Road school.
The Save Westburn House Action Group have been campaigning to save the building and their bid for the house was accepted by the local authority in November.
Members are now fundraising towards their project to restore it.
