Elspeth at home - A glimpse into sophisticated Scottish living

In this food photography series, we take a peek behind the tartan curtain to glimpse into the home life of Elspeth, an Edinburgh socialite known for her effortless elegance, glittering glamour, and for never being without a cigarette in hand.

These food photographs were a collaboration between myself and commercial food stylist Tim Schilling.

Empire biscuits

Elle, as her close friends call her, is a fervent baker, and here we see her adding the final touches to her infamous Empire Biscuits — a Scottish staple always found at her gatherings. Though skilled in the kitchen, she’s not the tidiest and relies on a strong coffee and a couple of cigarettes to get her through the process. Elspeth takes great care to ensure her Empire Biscuits look as immaculate as she does, so you might say that her approach to baking mirrors her life: messy behind the scenes, but always flawlessly presented… heaven forbid she gets royal icing on her pearl bracelet!

Brunch

Elspeth’s favourite meal of the day is brunch, especially when she can share it with one of her chums. Ever the traditionalist, she adores a full Scottish breakfast, haggis and black pudding to boot, but she also believes that no brunch is complete without an oyster and glass of bubbles with which to wash it down! The croissants are warmed, the bread is toasted, and the eggs are boiled… and her favourite Chanel lipstick is always on hand should she need a quick touch up.

Christmas pudding

It comes with no surprise that Elle loves to host. Welcoming friends, family and loved ones into her home is one of her favourite things to do. And what better opportunity is to have friends over good food and drinks than the impending festive season. Her table is a masterpiece of delectable desserts, from whisky mince pies, her homemade empire biscuits and the jewelled Christmas pudding as its centrepiece. Lest not forget the bottle of Bolly!