Bob Marshall
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bobmarshall.co.uk
Bob Marshall
@bobmarshall.co.uk
1.1K followers 470 following 470 posts
Edinburgh-based architectural illustrator and 3D reconstruction artist. #Blender3D Pro. Member: Society of Architectural Illustrators, Scottish Castles Association, and the Caithness Broch Project. https://bobmarshall.co.uk
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bobmarshall.co.uk
Bob Marshall @bobmarshall.co.uk · 28d
Hi #PortfolioDay!

I'm an Architectural Illustrator from Edinburgh. I visually reconstruct heritage buildings and monuments in #Blender3D guided by archaeology, measured survey data, and by working in collaboration with historians and archaeologists.

Website: bobmarshall.co.uk
ALT: A speculative digital reconstruction of the Bass of Inverurie - a late twelfth-century timber and earthwork castle held by the Earls of Garioch (pronounced "Geary" in the local tongue)- members of the extended royal family of Scotland and the ancestors of King Robert the Bruce. Personal project © Bob Marshall 2017. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Speculative digital reconstruction of Tor Alvie hillfort near Aviemore, Scottish Highlands. The site was identified as a hillfort in 2010-11 (Historic Environment Record: MHG55341). The reconstruction model was created in Blender 3D using a combination of high-resolution digital terrain data obtained from Ordnance Survey, which I used to create my backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountains. Although the fort has never been excavated, the line of its rampart walls can broadly be determined by a stony bank that encloses an area of roughly 85m x 30m, bearing immediate similarities in size and shape to Craig Phadrig hillfort near Inverness. However, unlike Craig Phadrig, there is no evidence that Torr Alvie was vitrified. It is difficult to know how thick the ramparts were, whether there were timber palisades, and how many entrances the fort had, so imagination plays a large part in this visualisation. With grateful thanks to Eve Boyle and Adam Welfare of Historic Environment Scotland and Professor Gordon Noble of the University of Aberdeen for their input and assistance. © Bob Marshall / badenochstorylands.com 2020. A speculative digital reconstruction of the early sixteenth-century chancel screen of St Mary's parish church in Youghal, Ireland. Using survey measurements, I developed a computer model to help me work out a possible design for the screen and its loft. Its form is guided by the information written in historical documents and from a single piece of decorated timber, which may have been part of this original screen, found underneath the church floor during recent archaeological investigations. I have combined influences from some surviving medieval screens found in churches in several English counties. The depiction of the Last Judgement painted above the chancel arch is imaginary, and also influenced by similar mural paintings found in several medieval English churches. The Last Judgement, sometimes also referred to as a ‘Doom’, was a common feature of medieval churches. It was an instrument for highlighting the contrasts between the rewards of heaven and the agony of hell, intended to guide Christians away from sin and misbehaviour. A digital reconstruction of Brougham Castle shows how it may have looked in 1388 following the additions and alterations made by Roger Clifford, 5th Baron of Westmoreland. This view of the castle in wintertime is from the northwest. Artist: Bob Marshall. © Historic England / English Heritage Trust. Contact Historic England Archives for Licensing enquiries.
bobmarshall.co.uk
The Radical Road needs a radical plan.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why has one of Edinburgh's best views been off-limits for seven years?
The historic Radical Road path was closed in 2018 due to rockfall but a plan for its full reopening has still to be agreed.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
The new #SirDavidAttenborough series #Kingdom is a BIG hit with my cat tonight. He’s been glued to the TV right since the start. 🐅
A domestic cat watching a television program featuring big cats in the wild. A domestic cat watching a television program featuring big cats in the wild.
November 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
I've just seen the Baltersan Castle reconstruction (I won't share it on here, go check it on Faecebook) that's clearly been made with gen AI. Bartizan is entirely out of proportion to its true dimensions on the present ruin, central chimney width wrong, roof tiles wrong, crowsteps wrong. It hurts! 🤦
November 5, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Bob Marshall
socantscot.bsky.social
HELP US PRINT: ‘Rhynie, A Powerful Place of Pictland’

This nationally important monograph by Professor Gordon Noble FSAScot will only be printed if we hit our crowdfunding target by 6 December.

Please support the campaign by registering your interest: www.kickstarter.com/projects/soc...
Aerial view of a hillfort with the words Help Us Print Our New Book overlaid
November 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
I am unable to comprehend numbers and dates unless I can visualise them as patterns, shapes, or points in a sequence. This condition is called Spatial-Sequence Synesthesia or SSS. It affects my mental arithmetic. I'm interested to hear from others who have it.

synesthesia-test.com/spatial-sequ...
Spatial-sequence synesthesia
synesthesia-test.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:11 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
My reconstruction of Allen Smelt Mill (2017) is a good contender for being among my most challenging visualisation projects. It required months of effort, research, and problem-solving with the aid of 3D models. I wrote an article about the experience.... bob-marshall.blogspot.com/2018/01/reco...
Illustrated reconstruction drawing showing a cutaway view of Allendale Smelt Mill in Northumberland, as it might have looked in the 1800s. A central water wheel drives mechanical bellows, which feed a supply of air to the factory's ore hearths. Fumes from the furnaces that burn off sulphur and other impurities in the lead ore are carried away from the factory by a complex network of flues. The Smelting Mill was demolished in the 1950s and 1970s. All that remains are flue openings, the ore hearths, the wheel pit, and the foundations of the roasting furnaces. The flues can be described as long horizontal chimneys, which end at chimneys high up on the moors above Allendale, over two miles away. The flue system here is the best preserved in England. A reconstruction drawing of Allenheads Mine Yard in Northumberland. Teams of men and boys operated 'jiggers' and 'buddles' to sift and wash the mined minerals to extract every available ounce of lead ore. The process required vast quantities of water. The ore was then taken from here to the smelting mill at Allendale on the backs of small, rugged horses known as Galloways, then deposited into storage bays here called bingsteads, where the material would then await refinement. This is the only plan drawing we have of Allen Smelt Mill in the 1800s, showing the layout of its buildings and the route of its horizontal flues. A 3D computer model of 'Brunton Buddles'. This equipment was used for washing the iron ore of unwanted material. The material was loaded through a hopper at the top and then passed on to a canvas belt, where water washed away the unwanted material, leaving lead-rich ore to drop into a large tank for collection.
November 1, 2025 at 8:02 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Yes! 👇
lnrmodels.bsky.social LNRModels @lnrmodels.bsky.social · 11d
Proud to be finally able to share the secret project I’ve been involved with

The Marvellous Miniature Workshop is coming soon to BBC One and BBC iPlayer :
@bbciplayer 

#TheMarvellousMiniatureWorkshop #SaraCox #iPlayer
October 31, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Bob Marshall
koreformacion.com
¡Últimas plazas! El próximo lunes 3 de noviembre comenzamos un nuevo curso online y práctico que os permitirá aprender a recrear en 3D ciudades históricas con Blender. ¿Te lo vas a perder?
October 31, 2025 at 5:30 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Castle Gloom, a.k.a. Castle Campbell, Clackmannanshire. 🏰
📷 My own.

Happy All Hallows' Eve, folks.
An eerie silhouette of Castle Campbell looming in the fog, framed by bare trees. Clackmannanshire, Scotland. Photo © Bob Marshall 2017
October 31, 2025 at 4:55 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Post a perfect album from 1989. A perfect music year.
The album cover of '3 Feet High and Rising' by De La Soul. By Toby Mott - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, ttps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=129689563
October 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Good morning. Caught an early ferry from Inverclyde over to Dunoon for a few castle visits today. ☀️🏰
A view of Dunoon Castle in the early morning sunshine. Argyllshire, Scotland. A panoramic view of the Firth of Clyde from Dunoon Castle, Argyllshire, Scotland. Early morning sunshine.
October 30, 2025 at 8:40 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Couldn't resist sharing this because CBP don't have a Bluesky account yet.

Isn't this just completely AWESOME?!!!

I feel obliged to point out that authentic Iron Age Brochs didn't have car parking, however. 🤣

#Brochs
A local planning application summary (Highland) showing the successful application to build the first replica Iron Age Broch in over 2000 years near Latheron in Caithness, Scotland.
October 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Bob Marshall
northernstudies.bsky.social
Some great news coming out of Caithness!
Plan approved to build Scotland's first broch for 2,000 years
The tall, double-walled drystone towers have only been found in Scotland.
www.bbc.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
#HillfortsWednesday #DogsAtHillforts My much-adored, and greatly missed Jack Russell terrier inspects Traprain Law Hillfort in #EastLothian back in 2008.

Remote sensing data, imported into Blender 3D, shows the hillfort's topography and quarried-out northeast slopes.

#RemoteSensingData #Digital3D
A Jack Russell terrier dog poses at the summit of Traprain law, an Iron Age hillfort in East Lothian, Scotland. 50cm LIDAR topographical data showing Traprain Law, an Iron Age hillfort in East Lothian, Scotland. The image shows a deep quarry on the hillfort's northeast slope. Image reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. CC-BY A digital 3D model of Traprain Law, an Iron Age hillfort in East Lothian, Scotland. Created using the Blender 3D open-source software. A digital 3D model of Traprain Law, an Iron Age hillfort in East Lothian, Scotland. Created using the Blender 3D open-source software. The image shows a deep quarry on the northeast slope of the hillfort.
October 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Needed some good news today. Absolutely elated.
scotnational.bsky.social The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 21d
Planning permission has been granted for the first broch in 2000 years to be constructed in the Highlands
First Iron Age broch 'in 2000 years' approved for Highlands
www.thenational.scot
October 21, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Bob Marshall
blender.org
Join the official Blender Survey 2025!

Let's get a picture of the community and help shape the future of Blender together. 🧡

www.blender.org/news/blender... #b3d #DevFund
www.blender.org
October 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
At a time when we are all being told to use less power and reduce our carbon footprint, the race to incorporate AI into every part of our digital lives seems so grossly absurd.
Scottish data centres powering AI already using enough water to fill 27 million bottles a year
The volume of tap water used by Scotland's data centres has quadrupled since 2021, figures show.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 12:31 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Two years ago, I embarked on an ambitious 3D reconstruction model of Dover Castle, recreating how it might have looked at the time of the Great Siege in 1216. Working with a team of architectural and military historians, the digital model and 3D renders took over five months to develop. #Blender3D
Computer 3D model reconstruction of Dover Castle as it might have looked in 1216 on the eve of the Great Siege of 1216, when the Castle defended an attack by an Anglo-French rebellion against an unpopular King John of England. Working closely with a team of architectural and military historians, the digital model absorbed over 800 hours of work over five months. Laser survey and GIS data, hundreds of measured architectural drawings from Historic England archives, old engravings and paintings, and the findings of three detailed archaeological reports were analysed to create the digital model. Photographic textures, 3D renders, and manual digital painting helped bring the Castle's history to life through richly detailed images. The completed images were created for the exhibition, Dover Castle at Siege, which English Heritage opened in July 2024. Computer 3D model reconstruction of Dover Castle as it might have looked in 1216 on the eve of the Great Siege of 1216, when the Castle defended an attack by an Anglo-French rebellion against an unpopular King John of England. Working closely with a team of architectural and military historians, the digital model absorbed over 800 hours of work over five months. Laser survey and GIS data, hundreds of measured architectural drawings from Historic England archives, old engravings and paintings, and the findings of three detailed archaeological reports were analysed to create the digital model. Photographic textures, 3D renders, and manual digital painting helped bring the Castle's history to life through richly detailed images. The completed images were created for the exhibition, Dover Castle at Siege, which English Heritage opened in July 2024. Computer 3D model reconstruction of Dover Castle as it might have looked in 1216 on the eve of the Great Siege of 1216, when the Castle defended an attack by an Anglo-French rebellion against an unpopular King John of England. Working closely with a team of architectural and military historians, the digital model absorbed over 800 hours of work over five months. Laser survey and GIS data, hundreds of measured architectural drawings from Historic England archives, old engravings and paintings, and the findings of three detailed archaeological reports were analysed to create the digital model. Photographic textures, 3D renders, and manual digital painting helped bring the Castle's history to life through richly detailed images. The completed images were created for the exhibition, Dover Castle at Siege, which English Heritage opened in July 2024. Computer 3D model reconstruction of Dover Castle as it might have looked in 1216 on the eve of the Great Siege of 1216, when the Castle defended an attack by an Anglo-French rebellion against an unpopular King John of England. Working closely with a team of architectural and military historians, the digital model absorbed over 800 hours of work over five months. Laser survey and GIS data, hundreds of measured architectural drawings from Historic England archives, old engravings and paintings, and the findings of three detailed archaeological reports were analysed to create the digital model. Photographic textures, 3D renders, and manual digital painting helped bring the Castle's history to life through richly detailed images. The completed images were created for the exhibition, Dover Castle at Siege, which English Heritage opened in July 2024.
October 14, 2025 at 9:53 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
It's sometimes easy to forget to add ALT text to Bluesky posts. To remind you each time, head to Settings, Accessibility, and enable the feature 'Require alt text before posting'. ;)
sarahmay1.bsky.social Sarah May @sarahmay1.bsky.social · 28d
My feed seems to have more than the usual number of images without alt text. Particularly on some heritage hashtags. Please folks, inclusivity & accessibility matters. If you really can't do it, tag #Alt4me and folks will help out, though of course they won't be able to share your insight
October 14, 2025 at 7:54 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Hi #PortfolioDay!

I'm an Architectural Illustrator from Edinburgh. I visually reconstruct heritage buildings and monuments in #Blender3D guided by archaeology, measured survey data, and by working in collaboration with historians and archaeologists.

Website: bobmarshall.co.uk
ALT: A speculative digital reconstruction of the Bass of Inverurie - a late twelfth-century timber and earthwork castle held by the Earls of Garioch (pronounced "Geary" in the local tongue)- members of the extended royal family of Scotland and the ancestors of King Robert the Bruce. Personal project © Bob Marshall 2017. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Speculative digital reconstruction of Tor Alvie hillfort near Aviemore, Scottish Highlands. The site was identified as a hillfort in 2010-11 (Historic Environment Record: MHG55341). The reconstruction model was created in Blender 3D using a combination of high-resolution digital terrain data obtained from Ordnance Survey, which I used to create my backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountains. Although the fort has never been excavated, the line of its rampart walls can broadly be determined by a stony bank that encloses an area of roughly 85m x 30m, bearing immediate similarities in size and shape to Craig Phadrig hillfort near Inverness. However, unlike Craig Phadrig, there is no evidence that Torr Alvie was vitrified. It is difficult to know how thick the ramparts were, whether there were timber palisades, and how many entrances the fort had, so imagination plays a large part in this visualisation. With grateful thanks to Eve Boyle and Adam Welfare of Historic Environment Scotland and Professor Gordon Noble of the University of Aberdeen for their input and assistance. © Bob Marshall / badenochstorylands.com 2020. A speculative digital reconstruction of the early sixteenth-century chancel screen of St Mary's parish church in Youghal, Ireland. Using survey measurements, I developed a computer model to help me work out a possible design for the screen and its loft. Its form is guided by the information written in historical documents and from a single piece of decorated timber, which may have been part of this original screen, found underneath the church floor during recent archaeological investigations. I have combined influences from some surviving medieval screens found in churches in several English counties. The depiction of the Last Judgement painted above the chancel arch is imaginary, and also influenced by similar mural paintings found in several medieval English churches. The Last Judgement, sometimes also referred to as a ‘Doom’, was a common feature of medieval churches. It was an instrument for highlighting the contrasts between the rewards of heaven and the agony of hell, intended to guide Christians away from sin and misbehaviour. A digital reconstruction of Brougham Castle shows how it may have looked in 1388 following the additions and alterations made by Roger Clifford, 5th Baron of Westmoreland. This view of the castle in wintertime is from the northwest. Artist: Bob Marshall. © Historic England / English Heritage Trust. Contact Historic England Archives for Licensing enquiries.
October 14, 2025 at 7:23 AM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Hawthorn shrapnel from autumn hedgerow flailing wreaking havoc on my tyres today 🚴‍♂️. About as bad as riding over carpet tacks. If anyone out there can develop better guards to prevent the debris from flail mowers scattering across the road, you'll be my new bestest friend.
October 11, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Bob Marshall
cfaarchaeology.bsky.social
We are #hiring! #TeamCFA has a busy autumn ahead, with excavations scheduled across the UK. From prehistoric settlements to a medieval city centre, we have a wide variety of sites which would interest any archaeologist!

To find out more, visit our website: https://www.cfa-archaeology.co.uk/careers
An informational poster with blue background, listing the job positions available. A photo of a smiling woman is in the bottom right hand corner.
October 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
Shell House / Shell Grotto doorway (c1782) in the grounds of Newhailes House, Musselburgh. (National Trust for Scotland). 📷 Bob Marshall Oct 2025. #AdoorableThursday
The Shell House / Shell Grotto doorway (c1782) in the grounds of Newhailes House, Musselburgh. (National Trust for Scotland). Photo by Bob Marshall Oct 2025.
October 9, 2025 at 7:57 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
At Stirling's Engine Shed today hearing from different stakeholders on the issues, challenges, and successes of restoring and conserving Scotland's Castles. Very pleased to hear the resounding success of at least one conservation project I had a lot of personal involvement in. #ScottishCastles
Janet Brennan-Inglis gives a presentation about restoring Barholm Castle (privately-owned) in Dumfriesshire. Her talk was one of several presentations given by different stakeholders as part of a two-day conference tackling the issues, challenges, and success-stories of restoring, repairing, and conserving Scotland's many castles. The event was organised by the Scottish Castles Association and took place at the Engine Shed in Stirling on 9th September 2025. Among the keynote speakers were Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, and the Landmark Trust. Dr Anna Keay from the Landmark Trust gives a presentation about the recent restoration of Fairburn Tower near Muir of Ord in the Scottish Highlands. Her talk was one of several presentations given by different stakeholders as part of a two-day conference tackling the issues, challenges, and success-stories of restoring, repairing, and conserving Scotland's many castles. The event was organised by the Scottish Castles Association and took place at the Engine Shed in Stirling on 9th September 2025. Among the keynote speakers were Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, and the Landmark Trust. Bryan Dickson from the National Trust for Scotland gives a presentation about the recent community conservation project to consolidate the ruin of Preston Tower castle in East Lothian. His talk was one of several presentations given by different stakeholders as part of a two-day conference tackling the issues, challenges, and success-stories of restoring, repairing, and conserving Scotland's many castles. The event was organised by the Scottish Castles Association and took place at the Engine Shed in Stirling on 9th September 2025. Among the keynote speakers were Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, and the Landmark Trust.
October 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
bobmarshall.co.uk
It's my 20th anniversary of using #Blender3D. 🎂

I can't recall what version I started with, but it was probably 2.40. I was a Maya user before discovering Blender. There were very few tutorials around back then. Help came from a small and quite geeky online community. Perseverance paid off.
October 8, 2025 at 7:29 PM