When I photographed Spring Fling open studios in Crichton William Spurway of Solway House Arts invited me to attend the opening of the Dumfries and Galloway college end of the year student art exhibition at Moat Brae.

It’s the second year that HND Art and Design students presented their end of the year work at the place where J M Barrie was inspired to write his Peter Pan. I felt the exposed raw brickwork of the house awaiting renovation was a perfect setting for an art show. I was also impressed by the sheer variety of displayed pieces that included painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, textile design, conceptual photography, projection and installation.

When I arrived, the opening speech was already in progress. Angus Breadalbane’s self-portraits painted using his hands and his distorted ceramic skull pieces were thought provoking. I also liked Alex Sharpe’s experiments with cuts and slashes incorporated in the physical makeup of his painting puzzles.

Nicole Halliday’s guinea fowl and teabag dresses were arresting in their workmmanship. Demie Withers shared to me the process of making her prints based on the photos of trees at sunset silhouettes. Sarah Robertson wooed my attention with her ceramics. Hayley Watson’s work reflecting on the power of internet and perfect social media profile personas was witty and funny at the same time. Jayne Creighton’s idea of re-introducing her clay sculptures back into nature worked well as projection.

The Moat Brae exhibition was a fantastic opportunity to meet these young artists so early on their creative path. I wish them all the best in their further education and career endeavours!

Peter Pan at the HND students art exhibition - Moat Brae House, Dumfries
Peter Pan at the Dumfries and Galloway college HND students art exhibition | Moat Brae House, Dumfries
Listening to the exhibition opening speech
Listening to the exhibition opening speech
Large scale portraits by Angus Breadalbane at the  end of the year art exhibition in Moat Brae
Large scale portraits by Angus Breadalbane at the end of the year art exhibition in Moat Brae
Angus Breadalbane's ceramic skull pieces
Angus’s ceramic skull pieces
I love the light and the textured wall  in Moat Brae - a perfect setting for art shows
I love the light and textured walls in Moat Brae – a perfect setting for art shows
Nicole Halliday - inspired by fashion
Nicole Halliday – inspired by fashion
Detail of Nicole Halliday's tea bag dress
Detail of Nicole Halliday’s tea bag dress
Guinea fowl and tea bag dresses by Nicole Halliday
Guinea fowl and tea bag dresses viewed
Alex Sharpe with his paintings
Alex Sharpe with his paintings
Sculptures by Alex Sharpe
Sculptures by Alex Sharpe
Experimenting with cuts and slashes
Experimenting with cuts and slashes
Visitors perusing Alex's work
Visitors perusing Alex’s work
Moat Brae - looking down at the visitors
Moat Brae – looking down at the ground floor visitors
Exhibition guests at the first floor of Moat Brae
Exhibition guests at the first floor of Moat Brae
Projection and installation artwork by Jayne Creighton
Projection and installation artwork by Jayne Creighton
Hayley Watson holding her social media identity deconstruction photo series
Hayley Watson holding her social media identity deconstruction photo series
Hayley's wired hands piece
Hayley’s wired hands piece
Hayley Watson's concept t-shirt
Hayley Watson’s concept t-shirt
D&G college students' work displayed on the walls of Moat Brae
D&G college students’ work displayed on the walls of Moat Brae
Guest browsing through sketches
Guest browsing through sketches
Sarah Robertson with her ceramics
Sarah Robertson with her ceramics
Demie Withers's sunset trees prints
Demie Withers’s sunset trees prints

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