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After a career in journalism, public relations and fundraising, in 2018 I decided to take on a new challenge doing something I'd always loved as a child : making arty stuff.
The Access to Art & Design course at York College started my creative juices flowing. I loved it so much I took a big leap to a Masters Degree in Fine Art & Humanities at Duncan of Jordanstone Art College, Dundee Uni. A full-on intensive course which I completed in August 2021 with Distinction. I am inspired by the natural world, especially the coast, and our relationship with it. I paint in acrylics but after winning a cash prize to set up a seaweed design studio, seaweed is my focus. I have a website just for seaweed! www.tangscot.co.uk I now live in Newburgh in Fife with far-reaching views of Scotland's longest river, the Tay. My studio is 2 minutes walk away in The Steeple which is owned by WASPS, the organisation which provides studios for artists in Scotland. Milestones December 2022 Edinburgh Christmas Art Fair, Assembly Rooms. TANG artworks on show to a wider public - lots of curiosity and some sales. November 2022 Art & Design Market , Steeple Studios, Newburgh Sold first seaweed sculpture and took commissions and orders for more! November 2022 Awarded bursary for best emerging artist in Open Studios North Fife which takes place end of April 2023. October 2022 Two seaweed pieces accepted for the Meffan Winter Exhibition in Forfar Museum and Gallery. July 2022 Accepted for the Edinburgh Gift Fair in December. Will be taking my seaweed creations out to the wider world at last. Will be interesting to gauge the responses! Most people are intrigued but not necessarily converted to fully-fledged algophiles (seaweed lovers!) April 2022 Selected to take part in SUBMERGE, a two week online residency run by Ayatana's Biophilium - the Science School for Artists based in Ottawa. The residency theme is Aquatic Ecology and discussions include Algae, Microplastics and Octopus Intelligence. March 2022 One of 20 artists to take part in the Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Competition to help me to secure and equip a studio space - essential for making bigger creations using seaweed and metal etc. Raised over the £5000 target thanks to the generosity of friends and family which was matched by Creative Scotland. February 2022 Runner-up in the Venture Challenge for my business proposal to set up a seaweed design studio using seaweed both as inspiration and as a material. The business name is TANG - a Scots word for seaweed and the prize money will be used to develop the brand, logo, website, market research and prototype development. January 2022 Invited to speak about my Sea Intra-Action works by Carbon - Voices - Borders at the launch of their exhibition. January 2022 One of 11 artists in Scotland awarded a bursary by Luminate, the creative ageing organisation, to develop skills in metal work and electroforming. December 2021 Winner of the New Ideas prize in the Enterprise Challenge run by the Centre of Entrepreneurship University of Dundee, for ALGA, the innovative seaweed sculpture business. August 2021 MFA Distinction, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee University. See the documentation in magazine format here heyzine.com/flip-book/43deec0cca.html June 2021 SeaWorks I, II, III Selected for an online show organised by The Holy Art. May 2021 Horrible Creatures - my essay about the Velvet Swimming Crab published on philosophy forum: scot-cont-phil.org/home-page/mind-the-matter/ April 2021 One of my mini Torn Collages on show April-June 2021 in Fronteer Art Gallery, Sheffield. November 2020 Wild & Precious, an acrylic painting, appeared in a virtual exhibition called Stay Connected and curated by Lois Emma Harkin from Norwich University October 2020 'Hope' , acrylic painting was selected for a pop-up exhibition themed on Colour and held at Bloomer Gallery, Aldgate, London. Key influences: philosophers Whitehead, Bergson, Haraway, Barad and Saito. Painters: Cecily Brown, Maggi Hambling, Peter Lanyon and Joan Eardley. Installation Artists: Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Serra, Gutai Group. |