Fine Art - Student Profiles

Simon Reekie

Course: Fine Art (Painting and Drawing)
Date: 2000 - 2004

When I started considering going to art college I was working in London as a molecular biologist and although I had always been interested in art, the experience of living in London really gave me the incentive and passion to make art a larger part of my life. Being from Dundee, I was aware of Duncan of Jordanstones reputation. Financially it also made sense for me to return to Dundee to study. I would not have been able to afford to be a full time student in London

I think the most important aspect of any fine art course is the peer dialogue. At Duncan of Jordanstone there were a large number of students all interested in different things. This served to widen my one outlook and my colleagues outlook of what art could be. The facilities were good and Fine Art was interdisciplinary which gave us the opportunity to utilise facilities in different departments.

Dundee is a good size and it has a strong artistic community. It used to be that most artists with ambition would leave Dundee after graduating but now many are staying. Places such as the DCA and Generator Projects offer a support network for local artists and Dundee is within easy travelling distance of Edinburgh and Glasgow which makes seeing lots of art easy.

After graduating I painted fulltime for a year, but then I decided I would like to continue my studies and I was keen for new experiences. I was awarded a Fulbright Postgraduate scholarship which helped fund an MFA in drawing and painting at the school of the Art Institute of Chicago. This was a wonderful experience. I was exposed to yet more ideas and viewpoints, and I taught undergraduates at the Art Institute which was a great experience. My MFA show was picked up by a gallery in Chicago and I am currently making work for a solo show at the gallery. Since graduating I have exhibited in Scotland, London and Chicago.

Duncan of Jordanstone offered me the time and support I needed to develop as an artist. Some of the Faculty at Duncan of Jordanstone were incredibly knowledgeable about art and passionate about teaching. I think this is an incredibly important aspect in the development of an artist. As such, I wish to continue developing my art practice and my teaching practice.

Nicole Porter

Course: Fine Art
Date: 2008

The typical question put to anyone thinking of going to art school is What are you going to do with an art degree? There is no easy answer to this question, because for everyone it is something different. For me it meant becoming a full time self-employed artist. Since graduating I lived and worked in Norway for eight months with the world-renowned painter Odd Nerdrum. I also spent my summer painting in Paris and I am now moving to New York to develop my practice in the capital of the figurative art world. However it was my time at DJCAD that broadened my horizons artistically and personally.

I investigated numerous art schools and courses and concluded that DJCAD was the best. One of the reasons for this was the First Year General Foundation Course, which gives students the chance to explore all the disciplines of Fine Art, Design and Media Arts and Imaging. Recently graduated students are also engaged in the teaching process. I was involved last year, which I felt was an invaluable experience for both the students and myself.

In second year students have to choose which specialism they wish to enter and for me this was Fine Art. Unlike other art schools the Fine Art department at DJCAD permits students the freedom to investigate all areas of Fine Art. I personally choose to concentrate on painting, however being in a studio surrounded with students who were exploring other disciplines allowed me to learn and develop my own style.

In addition to the superb course, the tutors are very approachable and contribute to student's development with one-to-one tutorials and facilitating group critiques. The meetings with the tutors are organised to give technical advice and stimulate new ideas and contexts for your practice.

The group critiques allow fellow students an opportunity to discuss each others work. As art is very subjective, receiving a variety of opinions can help to improve and advance your work.

Not only are your artistic skills developed at Dundee but there are also opportunities to tackle other sectors of the art world. During the third year, there is a Professional Practice module for students. I participated in an internship at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, where I assisted in the organising of three exhibitions . This was great experience that introduced me to new skills, which I now use in forming relationships with galleries.

Another important consideration is the facilities and resources that are available and Dundee's are second to none. They have large painting studios with north facing light, which gives painters the best possible light and space for working. Students are allowed access to the studios from 6.30am until 9pm, which caters for everyone's creative timing. There is also a significant Fine Art Workshop where students are taught how to make their own canvases and frames. The library is also outstanding with an extensive collection of books and subscribes to every art publication available. Last but not least, there are highly trained technicians that are always willing to help.

To conclude, I would have no hesitation recommending DJCAD to any budding artist as it is an excellent university that has provided me with the necessary grounding to start my career as an artist. Thank you DJCAD.

The Nicole Porter Gallery

Jacquie Kane (nee Lennie)

Course: BA (Hons) Fine Art Sculpture
Date: 1991 - 1995

Duncan of Jordanstone was fresh, dynamic and progressive. The digital arts/performance art scene was starting to gather momentum in 94 95 and DJCAD was gaining further awareness in the wider Scottish art college community. This made it an attractive college to be enrolled at it felt like it was on the leading edge of a breakthrough.

The main sculpture studios for the 2nd 4th year students were large shared spaces and were conveniently located on campus. DJCAD is more architecturally modern than the other Scottish art schools and as a result appears to have extra studio accommodation. Students are not squashed into impractical, tired and over-used spaces.

The metal and casting workshops in the sculpture department were well-equipped. The workshop technician leaders were excellent, offering students advice about aesthetics in addition to technical help.

The coaching we received from the visiting sculptors was also a huge bonus. I felt greatly satisfied that the college was appointing relevant, modern, successful working artists to the course to offer mentoring and advice to students. This added credibility and provided a balance with the teaching provided by the more mature, permanent staff.

In the early nineties, Dundee was more affordable than other cities for the private rental sector. Dundee is also pleasantly situated on the Tay and conveniently located for transport around the rest of Scotland. Its medium-size makes it a very manageable city for first-time away from home students offering easy access to the countryside and coast.

In the early 90s there was also a DJCAD underground music, dance and arts movement that was driven by a couple of guys in my year the skate factory, now DCA and The Spaceship. Unsurprisingly Tom Simpson of Snow Patrol fame was involved. This all contributed to the DJCAD experience; a creative, collaborative, pulsating melting pot of art, performance and digital media. I would 110% recommend Dundee and DJCAD to prospective students. Dundee is the city of discovery in more ways than one, and DJCAD is a great place to start that journey.