Find out more about Olivia Bartlett, UAL Extended Diploma Photography student , winner of the inaugural Tim Leah-Adams – Technical Creativity Award.

Olivia’s nomination for the award noted: “Over the course of the programme she has excelled beyond what was expected of her and had success exhibiting in London and Middlesbrough (with more exhibitions in the pipeline) as well as receiving positive reviews for her self-published photobook series ‘Uninhabitable’. This included recognition from North America and partaking in artist interviews with the Biblioscapes Podcast as well as being invited to collaborate with other professional practitioners.”

• What is your home town and which school/college did you join the School from?

I’m from Stockton on Tees and joined The Northern School of Art from Stockton Riverside College.

• Why did you choose to study at The Northern School of Art?

I chose to study at the School because of the facilities which I felt would expand my knowledge and artist’s practice.

• What’s your favourite memory of your time at the School (academically as well as socially!)

My favourite memory has to be when I helped out in the darkroom when a class from Rye Hills Academy came to visit the photography department and showing them different ways to create photograms and seeing the creativity some of them had. Socially will have to be when my lecturer developed his film just to have no images on it which filled me with laughter… because it thankfully wasn’t my roll of film. 

• What are you doing next and what are your plans/ambitions for the future?

I’m starting my fine art degree in September at the Hartlepool campus in which I hope to explore more 3D elements. My plans and ambitions for the future are to continue my photobook series, to have my work in more exhibitions and to maybe teach. 

• Any advice for future students applying for the same course as you?

Don’t feel constricted to a certain genre of photography when you start and don’t be set on only shooting within one genre for the entire two years. I started off as a landscape photographer and now I’m a fine art photographer. But also don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques, materials and processes. 

• Where can people find out more about your work?