The Union awarded ‘Scottish ad agency of the year’ title

AN awards ceremony celebrating the best of the Scottish advertising industry has picked out Edinburgh-based The Union as the best ad agency in Scotland this year.

For work done for, among others, the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland, the accolade was handed out at the Scottish Advertising Awards, which were held in Edinburgh, on Friday.

Meanwhile, the makers of Scottish soft drink, Irn-Bru, were named ‘Client of the year’. In the end, AG Barr was to go on to win several titles, either for Irn-Bru or its Strathmore water brand.

Leith Agency’s TV commercial for Irn-Bru, IF – a Scottish-orientated re-working of Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem – resulted in the ‘Best commercial over 30 seconds’ title.

Meanwhile, the same agency’s work for Strathmore resulted in the ‘Best television campaign’ and ‘Best cinema campaign or commercial’ titles.

The awards were held in association with The Drum magazine.

Picking up the Grand Prix prize was the National Galleries of Scotland, for its Andy Warhol tribute, ‘Cans’.

This was the fourth Grand Prix award that ‘Cans’ have won this year, having also picked up the prize at the Scottish Design Awards, The Roses Advertising Awards and the irreverent, Chip Shop Awards.

Says judging panel chair, Peter Gatley, copywriter for Weiden + Kennedy London: “I thought the overall standard of work at this year’s Scottish Advertising Awards was good.

“Even better, I thought the best pieces of work were genuinely world-class. Regarding the Grand Prix, I don’t believe there is a team/agency anywhere who could have produced a more dramatic, relevant, or cost effective piece of work for the Warhol exhibit. It’s as perfect a solution to a brief you can imagine.”

The award winners…

Grand prix

National Galleries of Scotland for Andy Warhol Can Columns

Chairman’s award

Story for The Glenmorangie Company – Corryvreckan

Young creative team of the year

The Leith Agency

Client of the year

AG Barr

Media buying point of the year

MediaCom

Advertising agency of the year

The Union Advertising Agency

Best 6,4 or smaller sheet poster

Company: The Union Advertising Agency
Client: Scottish Government
Title: Drunk
Art Director: Ruth Yee
Copywriter: Ruth Yee

Best use of 48 or 96 sheet poster

Company: The Leith Agency
Client: Sol Beer
Title: Street Scene
Art Director: Chris Scott
Copywriter: David Grenfell

Best outdoor campaign

Company: The Union Advertising Agency
Client: Scottish Government
Title: ‘Beatings’, ‘Drunks’, ‘Screams’
Art Director: Ruth Yee
Copywriter: Ruth Yee

Best unusual size or special build

Company: National Galleries of Scotland
Client: National Galleries of Scotland
Title: Warhol Soup Can Columns
Art Director: Ross Perth

Best advertisement on a mobile medium

Company: The Bridge
Client: Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
Title: Road Accident
Art Director: Simon Parker
Copywriter: Ali Taylor

Best press campaign

Company: Newhaven Communications
Client: Scottish Government
Title: Greener 10 Steps Campaign
Art Director: Rufus Wedderburn
Copywriter: Chris Watson

Best press advertisement

Company: The Union Advertising Agency
Client: ASH
Title: Nipple
Art Director: David Aylesbury
Copywriter: Martin Hartley
Photographer: Robert Brady

Best public sector advertisement

Company: The Union Advertising Agency
Client: ASH
Title: Nipple
Art Director: David Aylesbury
Copywriter: Martin Hartley

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