Niamh McFarlane was recognised as a top performer at Forth Valley College – and is now on a course hoping to teach art to the next generation.
Exciting artist and former Forth Valley College student Niamh McFarlane has launched her first solo exhibition – titled ‘Colourscapes’ – at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Stirling.
Niamh, 23, from Denny, who won the Most Promising Student in the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries prize at FVC’s 2023 graduation ceremony, completed her Honours at the University of Stirling in 2024.
She was then accepted onto a Masters course at the prestigious Goldsmiths, University of London, but decided to enter into teaching art in Scotland instead.
She is now studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PDGE) for Art and Design secondary teaching at the University of Glasgow.
Her first free solo exhibition will run from Wednesday to Sunday each week at the Smith – from 10am-5pm – until December 21.
Niamh, said: “I’m delighted to be holding my first solo art exhibition at The Smith Art Gallery in Stirling, and I hope as many staff and students from the college can come along.
“This opportunity came about from connections I made with the Smith Art Gallery from my degree show at FVC in 2023, when they purchased my painting for their permanent collection. We kept in touch and this opportunity to exhibit 20 abstract paintings came from that and I am so thankful for their support.
“I will always be grateful for my time at college and genuinely believe my positive experience and great start in my creative journey comes down to the amazing support I had from the Creative Industry Department. I’d go back tomorrow, as it was such a positive learning experience as a student, which wasn’t always the case for me. This has led me to want to go into education upon graduating to help inspire young people and work in the creative industries.
“I am grateful, excited, nervous and so proud to host my first solo show at the Smith and couldn’t have done it without them and the support from Forth Valley College.”
Caroline Mathers, Director of the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, said: “We are delighted to give Niamh the opportunity to hold her first solo exhibition at The Smith.
“We purchased one of her paintings for our collection after seeing her graduation show and we have been watching her career progress ever since. It’s important for galleries to support emerging artists in any way we can, and having such a good connection to FVC has brought some great art to our attention.
“The quality of the graduates is excellent, and Niamh is testament to the support and resources made available her while she was studying there. We look forward to seeing how her practice evolves and wish her all the best in her new career as an art teacher.”
Niamh has had a sensational couple of years, as she sold her ‘Freshscape’ painting to the Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Stirling for their private collection, and won the City Contemporary Art Exhibition Award for her work to be displayed at the City Contemporary Galleries in Perth.
The former St Modan’s High School pupil had been working as a nursery teacher, but the pandemic lockdown led her to reassess her future path and she applied to FVC as she always enjoyed being creative at high school.
She is now studying for her Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PDGE) for Art and Design secondary teaching at the University of Glasgow.
For more on art and design courses at FVC visit www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design. Find out more about Niamh’s work at: niamhjmcfpaintings.wixsite.com/niamhjmcfpaintings
