Learning Programme 2017 student profiles
More info about the fourteen art students from six Scottish art colleges who have been selected for the Professional Development Programme as part of the Scotland + Venice 2017 presentation of a solo show of new work by Rachel Maclean.
Borders College
Catrina Barquist
Catrina is studying Fine Art at Borders College. Using the human body as a canvas to express inner feelings, she uses photography to bring back the physicality of the paint, by over painting the image.
She is excited for this opportunity as it is a chance to connect with other artists, experience a different culture and improve her own work.
Edinburgh College of Art
Florence Richardson
Florence is a Fine Art student from Bath, currently studying at the University of Edinburgh. As someone whose practice focuses on digital illustration and film she is ecstatic to be working with Rachel Maclean, and greatly looking forward to sharing skills and ideas with other Scotland + Venice participants.
Isotta Page
Isotta Page is an Italian-American student from Rome, Italy. Currently, Isotta is working towards an MA in Fine Art and History of Art at the University of Edinburgh. She is looking forward to engaging with the diverse artistic community fostered during the Biennale while working at the Scotland+Venice Pavilion.
Gemma Batchelor
Gemma grew up in London, but has found a home in beautiful Edinburgh while studying Photography and History of Art at the University. She is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to live in such a historic city as Venice that will be filled with creatives to meet and artistic opportunities to be developed.
Brandon Logan
Originally from Stromness, Orkney, Brandan is in his third year of the MA Fine Art programme at Edinburgh College of Art. Embarking upon this project, he is excited by the prospect of working as part of a team within the context of an environment which is entirely new.
Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University
Jessica Barrie
Jessica is from Fife and studies painting in Aberdeen at Gray’s. The most exciting thing about this opportunity is to learn new skills, meet people from all over the world and of course the unveiling of Rachel’s work!!
Svetlana Panova
Svetlana is currently a final-year Contemporary Art Practice student at Gray’s School of Art. Originally from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Ish has been living and working in Aberdeen for the past four years. She is extremely honoured by this opportunity to participate in Scotland’s presentation in Venice and, as a young artist, to be able to experience this huge international art forum in person.
Siobhan McLaughlin
Growing up in Glasgow, Siobhan McLaughlin attended portfolio courses at GSA and Tramway before heading to ECA to study MA Fine Art, specialising in Painting. She is excited to soak up the experiences of living and working in Venice, surrounding myself with new art and people, to develop her practice in an exciting direction.
City of Glasgow College
Mhairi Rew
Mhairi Rews is in her final year of her degree in Contemporary Art Practice at City of Glasgow College. She is looking forward to being immersed in a city and environment dominated with so many artists work. Each exhibition different from the last, working within them and being inspired by them as well as the people she will experience it with.
Michelle Fisher
Michelle Fisher is a Contemporary Art Practice student from East Kilbride, studying at City of Glasgow College. She loves performance art and all things visual and creative – looking forward to seeing all that the Biennale has to offer, and meeting and working with such a diverse team of talented people.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
Laura Gray
Originally from Paisley and having grown up in a small town called Linwood, Laura is studying Fine Art at Duncan Jordanstone College of Art & Design. The opportunity to experience first-hand some of the best contemporary art from around the world and the collaborative aspect of working with artists from all over Scotland excites her.
Nicola Donaldson
Nicola is currently in third year at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee. She specialises in Fine Art and has a strong interest in sculpture, focusing on textural based projects which take inspiration from the environment. She is excited to completely submerse myself in Venice and the contemporary art scene.
Jo Hanning
Jo Hanning is originally from West Lothian and lived in Glasgow for a time. She is in her third year of study at Duncan of Jordanstone college of art and design, working towards a degree in Fine Art. She is delighted to have been chosen for the programme and eager to see how Maclean’s work is received in an international stage.
Glasgow School of Art
Fenella Gabrysch
Originally from Preston in North-West England, Fenella is studying on the Sculpture and Environmental Art course at the Glasgow School of Art. Her current focus is within performance, costume, sculpture and ceramics in the environmental art side of the course. Thus she cannot wait to partake in this programme, to both extend her depth of knowledge about Venice and the new work of Rachel Mclean, but also to meet and collaborate with other students across Scotland.
Tess Wood
Tess is from Wales and studying at Glasgow School of Art. She is ecstatic to be working alongside Rachel Maclean, to see the new piece of work and how the audience at the biennale will respond. Meeting other students from Scotland will be a great experience and will create many long lasting relationships.