Student art joins ground-breaking exhibition

Four artworks produced by our students are featuring in a brand new, ground-breaking exhibition for talented new artists from the further education sector.

Future Artists Scotland was devised by Art and Design lecturer at Forth Valley College, Ewan John, and will feature a diverse and vibrant mix of work by 40 students at 10 Scottish colleges, hand-selected by lecturers.

Work from Glasgow Clyde College HND Contemporary Art Practice students and ex-students include:

• ‘Forget Me Not’, a mixed media photography piece based on the impact of Alzheimer’s on sufferers and their families by Sophie Fulton, who is now studying Art History at Aberdeen University;
• ‘Urban Dissection’, a mixed media exhibit that studies the blurring of the organic and non-organic by Peter Jackson, now studying at Tramway in Glasgow;
• ‘Cyclic’, an oil on paper and dry point etching that looks at how nature is constantly destroying and rebuilding itself. The artist, Paul McParland is now studying Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design;
• ‘Aligned’ (pictured above) screen print on perspex, by Connor McLaughlin who is currently studying HND Contemporary Art Practice at Glasgow Clyde College.

The exhibition runs daily at Stirling University’s iconic Pathfoot Building from 9am-5pm until Tuesday 20 December. It's hoped it will become a major event on the art calendar, growing in stature as the quality of the artwork students produce is promoted, reviewed and discussed.

Linda Clarke, senior art lecturer at Glasgow Clyde College, said:

“This is a great opportunity for our students to showcase the quality and diversity of the work produced on the HND Contemporary Art Course at the Anniesland campus. We’re delighted to be part of this exciting exhibition alongside other colleges across the country. It is fantastic recognition for the hard work and talent of our students and it offers an opportunity for them to showcase their work to a wider audience.

“One of the selected students is continuing his studies with us, while three have progressed to higher education, demonstrating the learning and career progression opportunities available through the college. We are especially delighted that Connor McLaughlin was given an award for his work in this exhibition and we hope this this will inspire future students.”

Exhibition founder Ewan John said:

“This is the inaugural Future Artists Scotland Exhibition, an annual showcase of the important, challenging and contemporary artwork produced throughout Scotland's further education colleges. The artwork emerging from Scotland’s colleges is increasing in cultural significance and has earned a place in which to express itself and in return should be rewarded with the media attention and critical acclaim it deserves.”

Candy Munro, Acting Chief Executive, College Development Network (CDN), said: “It is wonderful to see college talent showcased in this way. Congratulations and good luck to all those involved in making this exciting exhibition happen. CDN looks forward to hearing of the future successes of these and other talented art and design students from the college sector.”

Jane Cameron, Curator University of Stirling Art Collection, said: “The Art Collection has long had an ambition to host an exhibition of this kind in the modernist Pathfoot Building which already displays the University’s Contemporary Collection. The creative work coming from Further Education colleges is original and exciting. We’re looking forward supporting the Future Artist’s Scotland Exhibition in what we hope will become an annual event.”

To find out more about the exhibition, visit www.futureartistsscotland.co.uk.