Garden studio to let artists grow
A Forth Valley College art and design graduate has taken a novel approach to finding studio space - by creating one in his own back garden.
With help from his dad Jim and grandad Andrew, Nathan Brown (26) has built an artistic home from home for him and two former FVC classmates to develop their talents.
Nathan graduated last year with a BA in art and design and was also presented with the most promising student in creative industries at FVC’s 2016 Graduation ceremony at Stirling Castle last October.
Along with Emma Rock (26) from Dunblane and Ashley McNeil (23) from Sauchie, Nathan has created NAE Art – taking the first letters of each of their names and adding art to make NAE Art – and they are taking control of their own art careers.
All three artists also exhibited work at the inaugural Future Artists Scotland exhibition (Nov-Dec 2016) a Scotland-wide event for talented new artists - created by Forth Valley College lecturer Ewan John.
The event featured the work of 40 students hand selected by lecturers from 10 further education colleges. Nathan’s work won a prize to allow him to exhibit his art at the University of Stirling Pathfoot building.
Nathan said: “We have this joint studio at my home in Alloa and it is a place for Emma, Ashley and myself to work and grow as artists. I was relying on my dad, who is a joiner to build it and he had all the skills to do it and my grandad was a great labourer for him – and they have both been brilliant.
“I originally thought I would be in here myself, but I realised that when you leave college you need to keep up the atmosphere that is created in that environment and you really need to be sharing it with some people.
“Emma and Ashley and I were talking at the end of the year about having a place to keep this going and I am delighted that they have joined me here in the studio.”
Ashley, said: “Seeing what was just conversation in class between the three of us get realised into something which I am proud to be a part of gives me confidence in the early parts of my art career.”
Emma said: “We have all started working in here already and have big plans. Working in a group setting creates a great opportunity to pull together the skills we have accumulated through our time of study.
“This means we can learn from each other as well as providing encouragement in our efforts to succeed in the creative industries. It is very easy to become demotivated once you graduate and working in this setting is a great way to keep up the momentum.”
FVC creative industries lecturer Ewan John, said: “To have this space in your back garden and working with your former course mates and now colleagues, is a great way to take the bull by the horns. They are doing it for themselves and going for it and I am very impressed.”
Working in this setting is a great way to keep up momentum