An outlaw captured: Artist on framing Rob Roy for special edition of Walter Scott’s classic

The Folio Society limited edition of Rob Roy illustrated by June Carey.

During the first national lockdown, artist June Carey escaped the pandemic by immersing herself in a 300-year-old tale of love, passion and politics.

Seeking solace behind her studio doors, Carey worked on illustrations for a new limited edition of Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel, Rob Roy, and admits having the chance to transport herself to 18th-Century Scotland was the perfect antidote to the chaos of the world outside.

“Lockdown didn’t really bother me,” recalled the artist from Stirling. “Artists are used to being on their own – in fact, you need to be on your own. The process was just heaven for me, and I actually really miss it now.”

Using detailed research, including hundreds of reference photos, Carey sought to bring the book’s characters to life with pastel drawings, each depicting key moments in the story of narrator Francis Osbaldistone as he journeys to Scotland and meets the eponymous outlaw.

The completed full-colour illustrations show the historic figures in a modern light, and while more accustomed to working with etching, a form of printmaking, Carey believes the use of vivid pastels helped her characters find their voice on the page.

She explained: “I don’t work the way that illustrators normally work because, well, I’m not really an illustrator. I just work from a very quick sketch in a sketchbook and then arrive at what I want to do.

Artist Jane was commissioned to depict Rob Roy for the limited edition

“I had hundreds of research photographs – the costumes had to be accurate – pinned up on the wall, while the audio book, narrated by actor Sean Barrett, played in the background.

“I always listen to music while I’m working so I played the audio book from morning until night.

“I usually travel to different countries and experience different cultures to feed my work, but that allowed me to be immersed in the whole story. As I’m drawing, the image changes and develops, and then I just always know when it’s finished.”

She added: “I was concerned about the timeframe because the publisher’s request came in at the beginning of lockdown, and the illustrations needed to be done by October.

“But I actually ended up finishing them in July. I absolutely loved doing it and miss it now because it was just me, my drawings and the audio book in the studio.”

The finished pieces have been printed within just 750 signed and hand-numbered copies of the book, which has been published by The Folio Society to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth this August.

Bound in goatskin leather, with an introduction by Outlander author Diana Gabaldon, the special copies each cost £295.

Having spent months exploring both the real Rob Roy and Scott’s fictional version, Carey says she wanted to show a different, often ignored, side to his character, pointing to the drawing which depicts his escape from capture.

“There’s a lot of mixed knowledge about Rob Roy – everyone thinks he was a rogue, but there is another side to him,” said Carey, who studied at the Glasgow School of Art.

“He was actually a man of honour, which is what I wanted to say in my pictures. For the story of his escape, I tried various things in my sketchbook to see what would work, and I actually had to go back and redo it once I was finished because I realised I forgot to add his tattoos!

“In the image, Rob Roy has been captured and he is about to be killed. His arms were strapped by his side, but he manages to persuade a guard to cut his bindings. When they reached the river, he dove into the water and allow his plaid to float to the top so it would look like he had drowned. That was how he made his escape.”

The full-size versions of Carey’s specially commissioned drawings will now go on display at a solo exhibition at the Royal Glasgow Institute Kelly Gallery from July 24 to August 15. Although she is happy to see her work go to a new home, Carey admits she is still finding inspiration in Scott’s epic adventure.

She said: “I was in my studio just the other day, working on another project, and I put the audio book on again. It’s the most fabulous story. It’s funny, it’s a love story, it’s a thriller – everything is there.”

The Folio Society limited edition of Rob Roy, illustrated by June Carey and introduced by Diana Gabaldon, is available at foliosociety.com/robroy