West Dean College fine art students show their skills

Vanessa McGlone - Sequestered, 2023, oil on board

The annual exhibitions from students graduating from West Dean College return for 2023, showcasing a range of work from diploma and master of fine arts (MFA) students. This year, the exhibitions will take place at West Dean and in London, with a range of media from a group of emerging artists and makers.

The Fine Art Summer Show is in the Edward James Studios, West Dean College, PO18 0QZ from July 1-7, 10am-5pm. The free exhibition will include work in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation, ceramics, video, animation, textiles and more.

Speaking about postgraduate study at West Dean, Sylvia Radford said: “The MFA programme has given me two years to focus on and build a stronger painting practice and potential as a professional artist responding to the contemporary world. Recognising how I connect my ideas and concepts through painting, experimenting with materials and mediums and opening up different possibilities of ways of working throughout this studio practice-based programme was supported by regular tutorials, by a peer group with diverse art practices and by visiting practising artists. Two end of year shows, first at the College followed by an exhibition in London, provide incredible opportunities to showcase my work more widely.”

Then comes By All Means, the London show at Copeland Gallery, Unit 9I, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, SE15 3SN, July 12-16, 12-6pm, showcasing students from the diploma in art & contemporary craft, fine art graduate diploma, and MFA programmes.

A spokesman said: “Every year, the fine art summer show goes on tour and this summer we return to Copeland Gallery, a vibrant exhibition space at the heart of Peckham’s creative community. By All Means is group exhibition that sees, for the first time, fine art students joined by artists graduating from the diploma in art & contemporary craft programme at West Dean College.”

Claire Diedrichsen, a student graduating from the diploma in art and contemporary craft, who will be exhibiting her work in London for the first time, said: “If someone had told me when I started the diploma in art and contemporary craft two years ago that I would finish by creating a multi-screen video installation which would be shown in a London gallery, I would not have believed them. It has been an extraordinary time and my practice has evolved considerably. The West Dean tutors have pushed me to take risks and taught me the value of research and contextualisation. I have learned that art theory sits alongside art practice, and I am coming to understand on a much deeper level where my practice sits and where I want to take it next.”

Tim Bolton, head of school of arts at West Dean, said: “We are enormously proud of the work created by the artists emerging from these three West Dean fine art courses.”