Exciting artist and former Forth Valley College student Niamh McFarlane will launch her first solo exhibition – titled Colourscapes - at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Stirling on Friday 22 August from 6-8pm.
Niamh (23) from Denny, who won the Most Promising Student in the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries prize at FVC’s 2023 graduation ceremony, completed her Honours at the University of Stirling in 2024 and was then accepted onto a Masters course at the prestigious Goldsmiths, University of London, but decided to enter into teaching art in Scotland instead.
Her first free solo exhibition will run between Wednesday to Sunday each week at the Smith – from 10am-5pm - until 21 December.
Niamh, said: “I’m delighted to share that I will be holding my first solo art exhibition, opening this Friday 22 August at The Smith Art Gallery in Stirling, and I hope as many staff and students from the College can come along.
“The exhibition will run until December 2025, so if you're unable to attend the opening, there will be plenty of time to visit and view the work. Please feel free to share the invite with anyone who may be interested.
“I would like to thank everyone at the College for everything they’ve done for me in the past, as a former Forth Valley student I will always appreciate your help and support.”
Niamh has had a sensational couple of years, 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, before embarking on her Masters at the world renowned Goldsmiths, before moving on to 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
Find out more about Niamh’s work:
