Mature student Jo Forbes, currently undertaking her Fine Art degree with us at our Hartlepool Campus, had her first solo show ‘Rotation’ this month at Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery! This is her first solo show after participating in open exhibitions at Redcar Palace Hub and Pineapple Black.

Her exhibition includes work from her last university module ‘Research and ‘Preparation’, the exhibition came about through a proposal from Jo, “I proposed it to the gallery following a curator space invitation. They are doing a run of solo shows.”

The work included was mainly acrylic paint and some collage and provides reflection on the environment,”having relocated to Redcar in 2021. I am especially influenced by the ever-evolving interplay between industrial landscape and areas of natural beauty. I am in awe of natures response and revival.”

“This body of work is my response to the construction of wind turbines destined for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm out in the North Sea. The turbines will be built on the Dogger Bank which is a sand bank left over from Doggerland, the land which connected the East coast of Britain to mainland Europe in the Mesolithic era.

I visited the Dogger Bank site at the Port of Tyne and they have lots of art at their offices. I took a presentation to propose some of my paintings for their space and they were keen to have it either in their office complex or on board their ships so the work may have an opportunity after Redcar to travel further North!”

Speaking of her experience studying BA (Hons) Fine Art she said, “I have really enjoyed the fine art degree course, I am a mature student who has been painting and drawing for many years but had not found ‘my thing’ until level 5 so it has been invaluable. The Northern School of Art is unique in that it offers such a broad range of skills and allows you to specialise. You feel heard and appreciated.”

I am especially interested in abstract-ish landscapes and for my Final Major Project I am looking at the Portrack Marsh. I have found the natural areas of the North East that have an industrial history the most fascinating.”

See more of her work on Instagram @joforbesart_ to find out more about our Fine Art degree click here.