Arts Council England awards Arts University Plymouth alumna £11k for new public sculpture

<p dir="ltr">Liz graduated from Arts University Plymouth in 2024 after completing both the Extended BA and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-craft-material-practices">BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</a>. During her studies, she developed a passion for creating site-specific works in publicly accessible landscapes, with a focus on sustainable and natural materials. Her installations at Mount Edgcumbe exemplified this approach, transforming fallen trees into striking interventions that contrasted geometric and organic forms. She also assisted artist Kevin Hunt during his <a href="https://karst.org.uk/exhibitions/kevin-hunt-lowkey/">residency at KARST</a>, deepening her commitment to experimental, process-driven making.</p> <p dir="ltr">The BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices degree played a central role in shaping Liz’s ‘Beyond Gallery Walls’ approach, giving her access to specialist facilities for glass, ceramics, wood and metals, alongside the rapid prototyping tools within <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/research/supported-projects/fab-lab-south-west">Fab Lab South West</a>. Students on the course learn to innovate across materials while working on live briefs with partners such as Mount Edgcumbe Estate, MAKE Southwest and The Box. This environment, grounded in experimentation, sustainability and professional practice, supported Liz to develop the technical skills, project management and confidence needed for temporary, large-scale site-specific work in public landscapes. Many of the processes central to her practice, from working with untreated timber and reclaimed materials to developing sculptural responses to places that remove barriers between audiences, nature and art, were honed during her time on the course.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Before returning to Higher Education, Liz built a career spanning more than 30 years in theatre and film which culminated as a Props Supervisor/maker at the<a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/"> Royal Shakespeare Company</a> Other career highlights include working for Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Kneehigh Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet and the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics. This professional background informs her pragmatic and collaborative approach to making, now applied to her sculptural practice.</p> <p dir="ltr">Reflecting on the grant, Liz said: “I feel extremely privileged to have been awarded this fund, which I will use to further research and develop ideas for a multi-sensory approach for sculpture. As a predominately site-specific artist it will help to broaden my approach in finding locations to work in, and I’m already currently developing a design for an exhibition at MAKE Southwest.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">The DYCP grant marks an exciting next chapter for Liz, extending her practice into new public contexts. With her proven ability to create thought-provoking, accessible works that blur the boundaries between art and environment, Liz’s journey demonstrates how creative graduates can combine professional experience with experimental approaches to develop socially engaged careers.<br /></p>