SmokeEater Art

19/08/2026

Sometimes i make things just for the hell of it.....no customer.... and no idea what I'm going to do with it once I am done.
I was given another MSA Safety Fire EMEA Gallet helmet....and I wondered how many Scottish iconic items.. faces...phrases..or places I could put on it...and this is the result.
Portraits are not my forte...but i couldn't leave the Big Yin out....and added Rabbie Burns, Chris Hoy & Andy Murray....not forgetting McTominay's bicycle kick.

Forth Rail Bridge, the Finnieston Crane, the Falkirk Wheel, the Kelpies and the Wallace Monument make an appearance.

Oor Wullie, Irn Bru, Tennents lager, a Tunnocks teacake...a Saltire..the Lion Rampant..Nessie...the Duke with a cone...a Highland Coo....a thistle...and a nice malt are also seen....alongside a few notable phrases.

All work is hand painted...I've yet to master air brushing..🤦‍♂️

Might be tempted to tinker a little more....i always am....but here is my latest piece for your consideration...😂

11/08/2026

Taking advantage of the nice weather to do the less glamorous side of creating things......preparing lids.
For those that have followed my work you will know I like to try and reveal the past of the lid that i am planning on using. They are often covered in paint or wax...and may still have printing or embossing from their original distillery...and it would be a shame to lose that.
Leaving some colour gives lids uniqueness......finding things like Glengoyne Distillery still showing means deciding which piece will still allow some of this to remain visible....i very rarely take lids back to bare wood.....but then again...that is what makes every SmokeEater_Art piece unique......every lid i different....guaranteed.

26/07/2026

26/07/2026

Fun piece to do for a good friend.

26/07/2026

This latest lid was handed over today and is already taking pride of place on Ricky Wedlock 's new outdoor bar.

Ricky is a good friend & has been a supporter of SmokeEater_Art for a number of years...but this piece was a surprise arranged by his good lady to finish off his amazing outdoor bar.

On the lid displays its name..."The Fire and Fairway"....& year established.....his favourite Formula One teams logo....the Ferrari prancing horse...alongside the 2026 version of their racing car.....the SFB Heritage Trust Official badge...and his other passion...a golf glove with golf balls & tees.

The lid will reside outdoors so has had 7 coats of clear outdoor varnish to protect it.

05/07/2026

Found these online after the Armed Forces Day in Falkirk yesterday......one of my favourite pieces once again on display in from of the beautiful WW2 Willys Jeep depicted on it. Wherever The Old Lady goes...Iain Morris takes his bespoke commission with him.

02/07/2026

New Cumnock lid.

02/07/2026

This retiral lid has to be one of the most long and drawn out pieces that I have ever had to sit on before posting....🤣
The bespoke retiral lid was originally commissioned last year.....but the recipient changed their mind on their retiral date.....but the customer wanted the lid at hand for when it was needed.....which is why there is no retiral date on the tally....and they have had it in their possession since October last year.
The recipient finally retired from New Cumnock Fire Station at the end of May this year...but no handover has happened as the customer was on holiday at the time....then the recipient went to Boston to follow Scotland in the World Cup...🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😁.

So....since a month has passed since they hung up their tunic....i feel enough time has passed to finally post this piece.
On the lid are a Strathclyde Fire and Rescue badge and a Scottish Fire and Rescue one....either side of a charity firefighter to acknowledge work they did.
Below is New Cumnock's appliance and registration...alongside a Gallet helmet with head torch....rank markings...and the station reflected in the visor.....their medal ribbon bar....and finally a tally that the customer would complete themselves with the leaving date..

All items unique to the recipient and the station that they served.

26/05/2026

Another one off piece.

26/05/2026

Another unique lid has been handed over....ready to head south later in the year to hopefully find a new home.
This piece is dedicated to the Long Range Desert Group...which operated behind enemy lines for a 5 year period before being disbanded at the end of the war. They heavily assisted the SAS....earning the name.."The Libyan Desert Taxi Service"

Their logo is a scorpion within a wheel....above the 4 letters....surrounding the logo is weathered writing in a period Army font....all done on an upcycled whisky barrel end.