I am currently based in the North of Iceland in a remote town called Olafsfjordur where I have been living and working for five months as artist in residence with two separate organisations: Nes and Listhus.

Prior to this I have spent a large amount of time in residency programmes including an expedition around the Northern Isles of Scotland with the Clipperton Project and working with the Bothy Project on two different projects. I have been selected for numerous artist in residence programmes this year which include Lyth Arts Centre in Wick, Cove Park, Cill Rialaig in Ireland and also one of 10 artists globally to be selected for the annual expedition around the archipelago of Svalbard with the Arctic Circle Organisation this coming October.

When I am back in Scotland I have a studio in Dundee where I work full time as an artist and exhibit my work locally and internationally. I have exhibitions scheduled for this year including two in Iceland, Grampian Arts Trust Solo show, John Muir show and ‘Just Landed’ exhibition at An Talla Solais, Ullapool from the 25th of March to the 1st of May.

My process in my visual art work is very much based place based. I tend to work in various mediums mixing them together and creating layers and textures responding to the land around me.
My drawings are large scale, gestural, and sweeping, in imitation of the landforms themselves. My prints are layered and tactile, responding not only to the land-forms but the textual rock surfaces as well. As my work has developed, it is the internalised grandeur of the landforms that take precedence. My photographs highlight the bareness and hostility of these wild landscapes that are exposed to the elements on the edges of the land.

I hope my work can serve as records of landscapes in flux, honoring the transition of them and inspiring our global community to take action for the future. By producing my art work I hope it will give people a chance to connect with that landscape and respect the nature that is so wild around us, to then cultivate a deeper understanding and inspire others to make a difference.

My future plans are creating larger work produced from my time spent in Iceland and all of the inspiration I have gathered here, preparing my work for upcoming exhibitions and getting organized for my largest project to date: my upcoming trip to the High Arctic this October.
I have been invited among a select group of artists and scientists worldwide to participate in The Arctic Circle Residency Programme in October 2016 for three weeks around the remote and northern Archipelago of Svalbard. The other residents and I will sail together on an ice class barkentine tallship explore Svalbard, just ten degrees from the North Pole, creating, collaborating, observing and documenting as we go.
This residency is incredibly important to me as it is in Svalbard where the effects of progressive climate change are the most apparent and where wildlife and the sea ice is significantly under threat. It is a place of wonder yet fragility and I find it important for my practice to record the shifting of the landscapes and the effects that global warming is inflicting on the Arctic.

I aim to record, document, and build up a large body of new drawings/ paintings, prints and photographs all made on the voyage through the Arctic and all directly connected to the place and what I observe whilst on the expedition. I hope to instill love for the landscapes in people so they too can be inspired to conserve this place that is significant to our future as a whole. I am currently raising funds for my project so if you would like to back my trip and receive art work made in Svalbard in return please click this link.

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Ellis O’Connor is a visual artist specialising in printmaking, photography and drawing. She is currently based in Dundee completing her MFA at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Since graduating from her undergrad in 2014 at DJCAD she has exhibited extensively whilst travelling to make new work and has been selected for a number of artist in residency programmes.

Traces, A series of prints

Since graduating with a BA Hons Degree in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone in June this year, I have been involved in many projects including two artist residencies. As my work is based on the idea of ‘place’ and our connection to remote landscapes, I am constantly travelling to capture new remote lands. Straight after graduating I travelled around the islands of Scotland for three weeks. This was a way of getting as much inspiration as possible and making new work on site. It also refreshed my mind as I was able to take some time away from the studio.

Close-up detail: Elements of the Shore

Ellis O’Connor – Edges

In July, I was chosen to be artist in residence on board an expedition around the Northern Isles of Scotland with the Clipperton Project. We travelled around the Isles of Shetland on a boat for four weeks and I collaborated with other artists whilst teaching artist workshops to communities on remote islands. I then travelled out to Florence for the months of August and September as I was selected amongst nine other Scotland based artists to receive the RSA John Kinross Scholarship. This was an incredible opportunity and really gave me the support to make new work whilst being inspired from a new setting.

Since the amazing residency and scholarship, I have returned to university to undertake my MA in Art and Humanities at Duncan of Jordanstone. I feel that it is completely different from being an undergrad, as it is more focused on your practice and working as an artist on your own. I wanted to undertake this course to develop more of the written part of my work and give me a chance to delve more into the ideas within my practice. Since returning to education, I have also just come back from Iceland where I was artist in residence at the Fljotstunga Eco farm in collaboration with Geo Park Iceland. I have taken part in two exhibitions: The Black Cube Collective’s Annual show in Edinburgh and ‘Waypoints’, an exhibition in collaboration with the Clipperton Project on the Isle of Eigg.

Series of Prints Framed

I am currently making new work based on my time spent around the remote islands of Scotland and working to large scale size for the RSA New Contemporaries 2015. I have also been selected to take part in artist residence programmes next year in The Bothy Project Sweeney’s Bothy Scotland, Cill Rialaig Ireland, and Norway’s Agder Art Centre. I intend to keep making work based on the atmosphere of remote places whilst documenting my travels out there to put across to the viewer. The only way I can keep making work is by travelling and so being selected for the opportunity to make work in organisations around the world is perfect for me!

Tidal Flow

My advice to graduates would be to apply for things and just go for it. There are funding and scholarships out there if you look for them. Central Station and Creative Scotland are particularly great. If you are truly confident in your practice and what your ideas and purpose of your work are as an artist, you will be fine. Don’t be scared of knock backs. The worst thing someone can tell you is no. You’re not going to lose out on anything by simply applying. I have purposely applied to awards and residencies that are going to better me as an artist and that I will gain something from, so just keep going and believe in your work!

Comment below or on Twitter using #LifeAfterArtSchool & mentioning @CenSta with your experience after art school.

Stay tuned for more updates from art school graduates all this week. In the meantime see a preview of what to expect from the Life After Art School features here.

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