rbs
the people’s money
As the UK moves to Polymer notes, a national engagement process included Stuco becoming part of a select collaboration of Scotland’s finest creatives.
Nile
Edinburgh
Strategy Development
Illustration
What Did We do?
Alongside Nile (Service), O Street (Graphic), Graven (Strategy), Timorous Beasties (Illustration) and many others, we helped refine the brief to a visual representation of the Fabric of Nature. We brought Scotland’s landscape, animals and unsung heroes to the fore, removing traditional views of how grandeur has been seen on bank notes.
Analogue skills
Moving from water to land and then sky, the suite of notes start and finish with the Mackerel, first in water - drawn by Stuco Director, Stuart Kerr - and finally in the talons of the Osprey on the £50 note.
The irony of Stuart’s severe allergy to fish was not lost, but his understanding of the prevalent species came from accompanying friends on west coast fishing excursions.
The composition of the mackerel is not chance. Early team discussions referenced playing cards and on the obverse, we were keen to push for a new agenda too.
Matriarchy
As writer and naturalist Nan Shephard became a clear favourite to front the first note with her beloved Cairngorm Mountains in the background, it quickly became apparent that the suite should boast a full team of women.
A public vote helped consolidate this idea by seeing Scientist Mary Sommerville adorn the £10. Alongside was her Fife home and on the reverse, sea otters. Entrepreneur Kate Cranston and her famous Glasgow tearooms were matched with beautiful squirrels on the £20 and the coveted £50 note went to Social reformer Flora Stevenson a champion of girls education.
Hidden gems
Stuart’s input extended to the background botanicals - each representing the basis for traditional dyes; Blue from woad for the £5, brown of dulse for the £10, purple blueberries on the £20 and Lady’s bedstraw for the £50.
The reverse of the notes also carry textile designs from across Scotland, appropriate quotes in Gaelic from Scottish writers and many hidden gems such as a full size midge, UV security print (hidden English translations and textures of the animals) as well as many others which will forever remain a secret…
