A Commemorative Plaque: Professor James M. S. Hutchinson

This commission differed from our usual work.

Rather than glass, the brief called for a permanent plaque to be installed in Alyth Town Centre, marking the life and work of Professor James M. S. Hutchinson.

Reference and Preparation

The layout combined two elements.

A short biographical inscription, prepared for clarity and legibility at viewing distance, and an engraved image of the Mark One MRI scanner. Rather than using a supplied technical illustration directly, the scanner was redrawn and simplified for engraving. The aim was to retain the recognisable form of the machine while reducing visual complexity and ensuring the image remained clear when reproduced in slate.

The composition was then balanced to ensure both text and image could be read cleanly once installed.

Material and Execution

The plaque was produced in slate, with the engraving cut into the surface and finished with a gold infill to increase contrast and visibility.

While this material sits outside our usual studio work, the same approach was applied. Careful preparation, considered layout, and attention to how the design would be read in its final setting.

Outcome

The finished plaque is now installed in Alyth, where it serves as a permanent marker of Professor Hutchinson’s contribution to medical imaging.

A different material, but the same underlying principle.

Unlike many commissions intended for presentation or private display, this piece was prepared for permanent installation in a public setting, where clarity, durability and legibility were central considerations from the outset.