Award-winning Rhona inspired by city’s heritage

A DUNDEE University graduate has won two national awards.

Rhona Jack has been named winner of the Glenfiddich Artist in Residence Award at the Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries 2018 exhibition and will receive £10,000 of funding.

The 24-year-old, who graduated from the university’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design last year, also collected the Glasgow Print Studio Award.

Rhona recreated a traditional loom and used it to weave a tapestry inspired by Dundee’s historic jute and flax mills, resulting in her artwork named “10cm/hr”.

She said: “I was very shocked but happy to win the awards.

“Just to be exhibiting at the New Contemporaries exhibition is special, but to win two awards was beyond my expectations.

“I wanted to highlight an industry that doesn’t exist any more and bring that down to the work of just one person, to show individuality within that one big industry.

“I built a loom out of old roof beams that I found and the pattern that I have woven was inspired by the old mill buildings.”

Rhona will now take up a threemonth residency with whisky giant Glenfiddich, and her work will automatically be entered into the New Scottish Artists exhibition in London.

Professor Paul Harris, dean of Duncan of Jordanstone, said, “I am delighted that once again DJCAD graduates have been successful in the RSA New Contemporaries exhibition.

“This is a real testament to the creative talent of our students.”

Rhona Jack