Printmaker
What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
I achieved two things in 2021 which, to me, were absolutely gigantic. I exhibited and sold work at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair and I won the Lucie Green Printmakers Prize at the Southbank Printmakers mini print competition.
How do you think studying at West Dean College prepared you for what you do now?
Studying the FDAD allowed me to try different disciplines and discover printmaking. The broad range of expert tutors and their different approaches showed me that there is not a set way of being an artist and that the most important thing I can do is discover how I work and what I want to create. There may be lots of skills that I can learn and hone, but the most important thing is to keep creating and keep developing my own artistic practise; everything else will follow.
What's your favourite memory from your time at the College?
I have so many wonderful memories from West Dean College that picking just one is tough. Moments that spring to mind include hovering around the Albion press, thoroughly enjoying the moment of revelation as those ahead of me in the queue peeled their print from the plate. The feeling of being completely immersed in the creative process without having to worry about ‘life’ is simply wonderful and one thing I always really look forward to is meeting such interesting people on courses. I have many wonderful memories of fascinating conversations over glasses of wine in the bar with tutors and course mates.
Talk us through your career path since graduating.
Prior to studying at West Dean College I had been planning a Masters degree in sustainability to further my previous career lecturing in FE. This was postponed due to the arrival of children and morphed into formally pursuing my love of art. The FDAD is flexible so I could work around the needs of two young children with the loose idea that I would know whether I wanted to pursue an artistic career or go back to my previous work by the time they were both in school. Thanks to the FDAD and my discovery of printmaking I’m pursing the artistic career!
Read more about the FDAD (Foundation Diploma in Art and Design)
