Nighttime scene of Edinburgh Castle with light projections of historical figures and stars on its stone walls.

Castle of Light

Projection Mapping & Interactive Installations at Edinburgh Castle

For seven years, Castle of Light has lit up Edinburgh Castle as one of Scotland's most beloved winter events - drawing 8,000 visitors on a single opening weekend at its 2023 peak. Bright Side Studios has been proud to contribute as one of a collaborative team of artists across five editions of the festival, commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland.

Our work activated Hospital Square and the Castle Esplanade, using projection mapping, animation and interactive light to reimagine these historic spaces after dark.

Night view of Edinburgh Castle illuminated in red with decorative light projections, and a crowd of people walking on the ground in front.

Projection mapping on the Castle Esplanade

In 2021 and 2023 we created large-scale projection-mapped animations across the iconic façade of Edinburgh Castle, transforming the Esplanade into an immersive canvas of light and motion.

In 2021, the animations were created from drawings by local children, bringing their imaginative interpretations of Edinburgh to life at monumental scale across the castle stonework. In 2023, the focus shifted to the city's magic and mystery — drawing on Edinburgh's rich history and folklore, and using the castle's architecture as a dynamic storytelling surface visible to thousands of visitors each evening.

Nighttime scene of a historic fortress with colorful light projections, including a large gold crown, cartoon characters with crowns, fireworks, and abstract designs, with silhouetted people watching.

A person standing in front of a building with a large projection of an eagle's head and wings on the wall, decorated with golden string lights.

Transforming Hospital Square

Over five editions of Castle of Light, we were commissioned to create a new installation for Hospital Square each year, returning to the space with a fresh creative approach every time.

Our work explored a wide range of ideas and techniques: collaborating with dancers and capturing their movement through 3D motion capture to generate animation; conjuring vast snow-formed animals that emerged across the square's architecture; and drawing inspiration from Scotland's artistic heritage to bring Henry Raeburn's iconic painting The Skating Minister to life through projection and light.

Each year, the installation invited visitors to experience Hospital Square in a new way — transforming the historic courtyard through storytelling, animation and light.

Audience Interaction and Storytelling

Developed in close collaboration with Warpro Productions, this interactive installations was designed to deepen visitors' connection with Scottish history and storytelling.

One installation invited visitors to press a button and discover which figure from the last 100 years of Scottish history they were — whether real or fictional. Playful and personal, it blended education with entertainment in a way that was accessible to all ages.

For 2025, together we developed a second interactive installation, expanding the concept and exploring new ways for audiences to immerse themselves more deeply in the narrative world of the light show.