Exciting artist and former Forth Valley College student Niamh McFarlane has been accepted onto a Masters course at the prestigious Goldsmiths, University of London.
Niamh (22) from Denny, who won the Most Promising Student in the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries prize at FVC’s 2023 graduation ceremony, is set to start her course after completing her Honours at the University of Stirling this year.
She has had a sensational year, as she has also sold her ‘Freshscape’ painting to the Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Stirling for their private collection and won the City Contemporary Art Exhibition Award for her work to be displayed at the City Contemporary Galleries in Perth.
The former St Modan’s High School pupil, had been working as a nursery teacher, but the pandemic lockdown led her to reassess her future path and she applied to FVC as she always enjoyed being creative at High School.
After three years at FVC, she headed to the University of Stirling to complete her Honours Degree and is now looking forward to embarking on her Masters at the world renowned Goldsmiths, before embarking on a career as a full-time artist.
It is now hoped her story will inspire more creative potential students to apply to Forth Valley College to help them kick start their own artistic journeys. For more information on Art and Design courses at FVC visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design
Ewan John, Art and Design Lecturer at Forth Valley College, said: “Niamh’s acceptance onto this prestigious Master's course at Goldsmiths College in London is a massive achievement, especially when taking into account the calibre and sheer quantity of applicants to the course from all over the world.
“She will continue to receive invaluable guidance, helping her develop her painting practice and refining the many skills required to be a contemporary artist. Her story has been an inspiration to students in all Art and Design courses here at the Stirling Campus, and is one that we have championed throughout her time at Forth Valley College and someone who also progressed onto the University of Stirling to complete her Honours.
“All of us in the department wish her every success in this new and exciting chapter, and encourage anyone interested in Niamh's story to enquire about our current course availability or check on the College website for details on how to apply for courses starting after the summer.”
Niamh revealed how she started her course while the College had lockdown restrictions in place, and she had to begin her creative journey while studying at home.
She said: “When I started off the lecturers were trying to get everything they could out of you while at home, I was carving artwork from bars of soap and painting in my bedroom, but it was all worth it. When I came back to the Stirling Campus I started to become a bit more rebellious and adventurous, upping the size of my canvases to as much as six feet! But the lecturers and technicians were always so supportive and helpful and they always helped find a way to bring your ideas to reality.
“That is why I would 100% recommend the Creative Industries Department and its courses to anyone… if they are interested in Art and Design they should go for it and apply. There are amazing facilities, studios and workshops, and the great thing is you are studying with classmates who are working in their own mediums and ideas, and you can feed off each other. It is a great environment to build your confidence and find your own creative voice.”
Ewan John, an Art and Design Lecturer at FVC, said: “Niamh started on our Contemporary Art Practice course during the covid pandemic and progressed on to the BA Art & Design course, where she focused on developing her painting practice.
“Her paintings have caught the attention of collectors and individuals alike who are drawn to the colourful, expressive nature of the works. She has developed highly textured, expressive canvases, which have appealed to local galleries, including the prestigious Smith Art Gallery and Museum who have recently acquired a large abstract canvas, which featured in her End of Year Degree Show, entitled, ‘Freshscape’, for their permanent collection.
“The predominantly blue work stems from studies and photographs as documented in a colour diary, which she recorded specifically for the show. In addition, Niamh was also awarded the City Contemporary Art Gallery Exhibition Award on the opening night and is expected to show at the commercial gallery in Perth later in the season.”
Photos by HND Photography students Charles McGuigan and Ashley Forsyth.
Find out more about Niamh’s work: https://niamhjmcfpaintings.wixsite.com/niamhjmcfpaintings
Instagram: @niamhjmcfpaintings
Facebook: @Niamh J McF Paintings
