Top prize for Plymouth art student

Devon Artist Network (DAN) is proud to announce the Jane Pine as the winner of a brand new annual award “The Devon Artist Network Student Award for Excellence in Painting, Drawing & Printmaking,” awarded to a student in their final year of the Plymouth College of Arts BA (hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking course, who in the view of the judging panel, has demonstrated excellence in the creativity and execution of his or her work.

Devon Artist Network Ltd (DAN), promotes, celebrates and champions the arts in Devon with a program that includes exhibitions, artist talks, educational workshops and a gallery website. The aim of this new award is to encourage emerging Devon artists to take their first steps in their professional art practice. DAN actively initiates collaborations between artists, communities, institutions and businesses and is delighted to be developing a relationship with Plymouth College of Art – a centre of excellence in Art and Design.

The award will give the student an opportunity to showcase their art to a wider audience and further their engagement with the artistic community of DAN, Devon and beyond. The winner receives £250, and a year’s subscription to Devon Artist Network which includes a full artist page on the website, newsletters and opportunities to exhibit throughout the year.

DAN committee member and artist, Frank Phillips, presented with the new annual prize to Jane Pine in a packed studio eagerly attended by students and art enthusiasts.

"I am absolutely surprised and delighted to receive this award from the Devon Artist Network and the recognition from the judges,” said Jane, “I feel it's important to be selected by fellow artists and an organisation who represent the art community where I live. The prize is gratefully received and is a wonderful kick start to my new career as a professional artist."
The judging panel consisted of three artists and DAN committee members: Willow Paterson, Frank Phillips and Zoe Singleton with and Principal Lecturer and Programme Leader of BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking at Plymouth College of Art, Dr Stephen Felmingham.

Jane Pine is an emerging artist specialising in experimental painting techniques. Based in Yelverton, Devon, she uses her knowledge of the local Dartmoor landscape and a deep connection to where she lives to inform her work.

Currently, Jane is employing a subtractive technique, derived from mono printing, to produce a series of still life oil paintings, investigating the intimate dimensions of space and consciousness. With many years experience painting using traditional materials, she also specialises in encaustic painting – a process using melted beeswax and pigments, applying it to a surface to create translucent layers that can encase other materials, such as graphite and charcoal.
She has been an active member in her course cohort and notably created a crowd-funding initiative that raised £1,795, in addition to other fund raising activities that raised in total £2,143 to produce a professional exhibition catalogue showcasing the student's work for the final year degree show.
The final show ‘Uncommon Ground’, where the award was given, brings together three years of creative work under the tutelage of Dr Felmingham.

“Students on the BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking programme are encouraged from the first year to exhibit work as part of their emerging professionalism. This becomes a key focus in the second and third years and a critical aspect of this is the ability to network and collaborate,” said Dr Felmington. “The programme itself is very outward-facing, bringing many opportunities into the reach of the students and our collaboration with Devon Artist Network is an excellent example of this in action. DAN is an exemplar of the kind of activity we expect students to engage in after graduation- to organise through groups and like-minded creatives, to maintain a critical dialogue and to mutually support through exhibition and open studios. We are very pleased to be able to offer the DAN Award this year, and in years to come, to our emerging graduate artists and to support the aims of DAN in growing a vibrant cultural and artistic scene in the South West.”

DAN hopes this new Student Award opportunity will encourage graduate artists and help them to realise their potential. DAN members look forward to an inspiring collaboration with Plymouth College of Art in the years to come.

Jane Pine will also be taking part in Devon Open Studios September 9th-24th see http://www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/event-series/open-studios-2017   The guide will be available online from late July.