Introduction

The initial idea I had was based on how an art school experience enriches lives in so many ways and that we should try and mark the passing of forty years since Derek Butler commissioned Glenn Marshall’s wonderful photo-booth poster advertising our degree show at Newport Museum and Art Gallery in 1980.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to hold this show at Newport and I
would like to thank Newport City Council and in particular Mike Lewis, Barbara Bartl, Oliver Blackmore, Sian Iles and Kevin Barry for all of their work on this project.

I would also like to thank Dr. Peter Wakelin for his interest and involvement in this project and of course all of the exhibitors and contributors.

I wanted this to be as inclusive a project as possible and at its core are a collection of individuals who feature on that original poster. It’s a subjective and personal curation, of people who wanted to get involved and who have embraced the idea warmly.

It was important to me to have also included the work of some of our tutors, which will give you a very clear indication of the diversity and quality of our educators, the people that have been a very special part of our lives.

It’s certainly a diverse cross-section and a wonderful gathering of individuals.
This exposition of their current work and biographies will hopefully give you fascinating insights into how an art education at Newport has influenced and enriched our lives.
You may wish to look deeper and explore the work of the individuals yourselves.
Thank you Newport and here’s to the next forty years!

Neil Carroll
Exhibition Curator