S pa L i f e the spring issue 2019
A BATH SPA UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATION
CONTENTS 3 6 7 9 10 12 16 20 23 26 30 33 36 39 42
Nellie Owens: Living with Dyselxia Broken Daisies Nancy: A Short Story Favourite Song Springtime Muffins The Hygge in Scandinavian Interiors Venice in a Day Palm Oil Isn’t Good News What to do After Graduation Why do we Love to Cancel Celebrities? Gaming: The Highs and Lows of 2018 Re-thinking Volunteerism Beth Pearce: A Budding Artist Zachary Young: Becoming a Curator Painting the Ocean: Freya Hill
Cover Image: Beth Pearce, Blind Contour, fine-liner and Letraset Promarker, 148x210 mm. © Beth Pearce
THE TEAM Editor & Art Director Jemima Ung
Creative Writing Editor Izzy Day
Social Media Manager Emma Oliver
Arts Editor Amy Frost
News & Opinion Editor Julia Archer
Copy Editors Meggie Miller Georgie Radford Anika Schulze
Lifestyle Editor Alice Woodman
EDITOR’S NOTE University is about study, dedication and perseverance; it is about arming us for our future careers with skills and confidence; it is about the excitement of new friendships that will last a lifetime; it is about the nights you will always remember (and perhaps the nights that you won’t); it is about the life experience these years bring us – the mistakes and learning that come along the way. And at SpaLife, it is also about celebrating challenges, successes, inspiration and talent that we find in our years of study.
Most importantly it is about celebrating the people of our University. In doing so we couldn’t whittle this down to one theme or topic because the passions and talents of our study body are so varied and wide. So, this issue is an amalgamation of all of that. From travel, to gaming, to art and writing, to environmental issues and graduating, this magazine is as much for you as it is for us.
Jemima xx
Photo: Portrait of Nellie Owens. © Nellie Owens
NELLIE OWENS: LIVING WITH DYSLEXIA Jemima Ung interviews Nellie Owens to talk to her about her personal experience growing up with dyslexia and her sincere belief that it can be a wonderful thing: she doesn’t struggle with dyslexia anymore, she just learns differently.
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Essentially I think that dyslexia is a gift,” Owens says with passion. “People think that we suffer with dyslexia, but I think it’s actually quite a positive thing, but we’re not taught that it is.” She goes on to talk about the power of imagination and the amazing visual landscapes they can create in their mind. It’s Owens’ opinion, and experience, that primary and secondary schools instil a sense of negativity when it comes to dyslexia and have a lack of understanding when it comes to teaching. “I can say now that I feel that they were very outdated methods. But back then I was young, I didn’t really know what dyslexia was and I didn’t feel like I could speak out about it, so I just felt really sad,” she tells me. Growing up is never easy, the struggle to build a sense of self-confidence is an inner battle for many that isn’t helped by a feeling of difference that many dyslexics may feel. Students like Owens were told that the reason they weren’t getting good grades was because of their dyslexia; because they couldn’t read and write well. In secondary school she was separated from her peers during tutor time to carry out handwriting exercises and spelling tests like they did back in primary school – “that’s a dyslexics’ hell!” she says in exasperation. But more than that, 4 | SpaLife
the negativity that surrounds people’s understanding of dyslexia creates a feeling of segregation. “Your peers will feed off that negative energy in the classroom and it puts a wall up between you and everybody else.” Owens was never formally diagnosed, but was told that she was borderline dyslexic. I questioned whether this was why she wasn’t given much support during school. “Yes, definitely”, she nods. “I think that they also probably didn’t want to spend the money on somebody who could probably just about get by. Maybe my symptoms weren’t as severe as someone else’s, but I definitely did struggle through high school.” But she exudes positive energy despite all this. “I really do hope that the education system does change because we do need to push dyslexics up and make them feel like they’re not failures and that grades aren’t everything.” But coming to university, after navigating an education system that wasn’t tailored to her way of learning, Owens has learned to reach out for the support she needs to succeed. Through a proper understanding of what dyslexia is and the support from DSA funding through student finance, Owens now makes use of one-on-one support and assistive technology that supports her learning. ClaroRead Plus, Dragon, Global Autocorrect and Screen
“I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT EVERY DYSLEXIC HAS A GIFT. I FEEL LIKE MINE IS MY IMAGINATION. AND THAT’S WHY I’M A WRITER.”
Ruler are software solutions that support reading and writing that have helped her make vast improvements. “I read Frankenstein in four days, I was reading about 100 pages a day and I’ve never been able to do that in my life before!” Just because something’s hard doesn’t mean it should stop you doing it. It’s about you saying to yourself, “I can do this, despite everything” and Owens is an example that affirms this. She is dyslexic; she is also a Creative Writing student. “Ever since I was little I was writing stories. They didn’t always make sense,” she says laughing. “But I’ve always loved it.” Now in her final year of her degree, she is not only enjoying it, but thriving. “I really like the whole idea that I’m dyslexic and I’m a creative writer,” she smiles. Perhaps it’s not as contradictory as it sounds. “I really do believe that every dyslexic has a gift. I feel like mine is my imagination. And that’s why I’m a writer. I’ve been told that my writing is quite cinematic. When I write I can see how I want it to look in a film.” We talk about the future and where she wants to be. “I always say that I want to be the next JK Rowling. That’s so cheesy!” she laughs with a hint of self-consciousness. “I feel like everyone says that but it’s so true. I really want to make a living out of what I write. Novels are what I want to do.” The education system may not be designed for dyslexia, but if you are living with it, remember that you have the capability of doing just as well as the student next to you who doesn’t have dyslexia.
by Jemima Ung SpaLife | 5
BROKEN
DAISIES
I’m pushing up broken daisies from the earth in which I’m buried. The petals are cracked and chipped along the edges, leaves hanging on by a thread, and the stem bent and twisted. Rising from the ground, they stand unreasonably proud for something so beaten and broken. Perhaps not unlike the body from which they grow, buried beneath their earth, a person who would follow their example. Bloom, they say, where you are planted. From where you are planted, bloom.
by Rose Butler
Previous Page: Daisies. © Karina Vorozheeva
NANCY:
A SHORT STORY
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ancy read magazines of diets and beauty tips: how to age less; how to have a beach body in just under two weeks; what the new serum for age-defying makeup was – fat triming, belly sucking, arse crunching load of nothing. But Nancy had her favourite and she stayed loyal to it every week. She’d never cheat on it with another magazine that made all the same claims. She had given herself up; given herself over. Nancy was committed. Nancy was in too deep. This long-standing relationship has lasted far longer than one she’s ever had with a guy. Five years, two months and eleven days since she picked up her first one. Ever since she reached for that first magazine she felt that she had a friend she could rely on. You know, the sort that tells you to suck it in at parties, or to not smile too much (you don’t want to seem overeager). The thing is, Nancy always told herself that she was reading all these magazines, doing all this dieting, and buying all these new products, for herself. She was doing all this to be happy. This made her happy, okay? She was her own person. Her own saviour. Except she wasn’t. And it was never for her. If Nancy was being honest with herself, she was doing it all for the men she couldn’t keep. That was what made this love affair so much worse. SpaLife | 7
Photo Opposite: Two lovers. © Annie Spratt
Where do you go from here, Nancy, now that you’ve been honest? Pretend you never thought it. But you can’t. It’s not going away. And suddenly you realise that you’ve thought it all before. Don’t look. The headlines will know. They’ll see that you faltered in your duties. They’ll know about your trips to the freezer at 3am and the hair that you let grow out on your legs. Bad Nancy. Nancy pulls the covers up over her head, a protective blanket against the damp seeping in around the windows of her two-bed apartment. She’s behind on last month’s rent. She doesn’t get out of bed today. She was meant to go to the gym. She didn’t go yesterday, you see. She can feel the cellulite tingling in her thighs. She should cancel her gym membership to pay the rent, but Nancy can’t quite bring herself to do it. Nancy skips breakfast and lunch. She doesn’t know where she’s going with this. At 8pm, Nancy makes pasta with kale and lemon juice and maybe some white wine. She doesn’t boil off all the alcohol. She uploads a photo of her meal to her blog. It tastes like shit. At 9pm, Nancy takes a shower and puts on her makeup and that little black dress. Suck it in. She makes herself a gin and tonic with more lemon. She’s drunk by 10pm, so Nancy goes out. The bouncer gives her a hug at the door and lets her in. They know each other. She gets herself a vodka, double. She sees someone she knows. What’s his name? Michael? 8 | SpaLife
“It’s Jordon.” “Right.” His breath smells like Jägerbombs. The whole place does. And the floor is coated in syrup. Jordon slips his hand up her skirt. Nancy doesn’t like that. “Come on,” he slurs, “you liked it last week.” She did. It’s true. But Nancy doesn’t feel like herself right now. Maybe she didn’t last week either. “I’m going to vomit,” Nancy shouts. Jordon leaps back and she makes her way to the bathroom. There’s a line. There’s always a line. But Nancy doesn’t really need the toilet. She’s not going to vomit. She’s about to cry. It kind of feels the same to Nancy. Same difference. But she’s out. She used to go out all the time by herself and it was always okay. There was an excitement to it. A guy to find, a need to be met. Now, though, she’s barely holding it together. “That’s a pretty dress,” a man says. “Go away.” “Oh, come on. Don’t be like that.” Nancy takes a deep breath. She turns to him. She’s not sure where she’s going with this.
by Nellie Owens
FAVOURITE SONG She’s my favourite song, a lovely lilting melody that meanders through my mind, pulling on my senses with every riff and every line. Gentle resting lullaby as I lean my head against her shoulder, string quartet slowly rising in intensity as we lean closer. Breaths mingling, a crashing clamouring crescendo as our lips finally touch, mezzoforte, forte, fortissimo. She pulls away and the music slows, dropping with my heart rate, mezzopiano, piano, pianissimo. A diminuendo as she turns away, but still that melody, andante, that trills inside my head, never ceasing, only slowing, the symphony of her. by Rose Butler
SPRINGTIME
MUFFINS
Our favourite food & healthly lifestyle blogger, Martha Norris, is back with a quick and healthy recipe for the springtime. For more from Martha, don’t forget to follow her on her blog: www.simplymartha.co.uk.
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pring for me is all about using the new vegetables that have sprung from the ground and come back to life after the cold, wintery nights. Asparagus and courgettes are one of my favourite vegetables as their green colour adds some freshness and glorious spring vibes back into the kitchen. ‘A savoury muffin?’ *Miranda Hart moment* I know what you’re thinking: there is nothing that can quite beat a fairy cake, but I promise you, for something savoury, this is pretty stellar! The avocado frosting with chia seed sprinkles adds flavour and texture to make you feel like you’re eating a sugary treat. I love that this recipe can be tailored to whatever dietary preference you have. MAKE THIS PERSONAL! Gluten intolerant? Use coconut flour! Vegetarian? Perfect for you! Need meal prep ideas? You can store this for up to a week! Need a new snack for uni? Make these! Make them your main meal with a side dish of salads or add them as a snack. The choices are endless!
Previous Page: Courgette and feta muffins with avocado frosting. © Martha Norris
COU RGET TE AND FETA MUFFINS WITH AVOCADO FROSTING
Ingredients ½ courgette (grated) 30g feta Chia seeds (sprinkled on top) 2 cups flour/coconut flour/oat flour 1tsp baking powder 2 eggs 5 tsp olive oil 1 cup milk Lemon juice Mixed herbs Basil Thyme Asparagus heads ½ avocado 2 tbsp water 1 tbsp quark Method 1. Preheat oven to 200ºC 2. Grate courgette into a mixing bowl and add thyme, basil and mixed herbs. 3. Add the flour of your choosing along
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
with the baking powder, eggs, milk, lemon juice and olive oil. Mix all ingredients in the bowl until a strong mixture combines. Lastly, crumble the feta and sprinkle into the mixture. Line a muffin tray with some olive oil to prevent muffins sticking. Fill the tray with mixture and place in the oven for 20 minutes or until fully cooked. Whilst the muffins are cooking, mash up avocado and boil water in a pan. Place the asparagus heads in pan and boil for 3–5 minutes. Add quark, water and a dash of lemon juice to the avocado. Drain and empty boiling water and dry the asparagus heads. Take the muffins out the oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack. Add the avocado frosting to the muffins and add the asparagus heads and chia seeds for toppings! SpaLife | 11
THE HYGGE IN SCANDINAVIAN INTERIORS
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e spend over half of our lives inside buildings. Without being conscious of it, the layout of a room will dictate our behaviour and mood. Scandinavian interior designers consider this when transforming a house into a homelier space. Motivated by minimalist aesthetic, they imbue a room with cosiness. Every texture and colour choice is designed in such a way that an individual has an experience in room. Nordic designs hope to evoke a sense of hygge. This is a Danish term with no English translation, but it’s best described as a feeling of togetherness and well-being. To capture what the Danes mean by hygge, we can delve into the sensuality of Scandinavian interior design. 12 | SpaLife
Previous Page: Adding plants to a room adds colour and helps circulate clean air throughout a room. © Patrick Perkins
The Scandinavian home favours neutral colour palettes. The walls are often painted in simple creams, eggshell and other off-white paints. This makes a space feel more open and airy, adapting to a minimalist lifestyle. This aesthetic movement is adopted by Nordic designers as they declutter rooms of unnecessary furniture and belongings, to focus on the individual. The colours encourage natural light and the energy of daytime so that an individual will feel more grounded and introspective. Light is very important to Scandinavian design. Artificial sources are set up in rooms so that they pool into intimate spaces. This is preferred to the harsh and intrusive ceiling lights most houses use. The Danes are renowned for their love of candles; the warm, yellow light is soft on the eye. It is important that a room evokes all of an individual’s senses, and candles achieve this with the gentle scent they release, alongside soft sources of light. The lighting can also be created through low slung lamps to preserve serenity in a room. Scandinavian interior designs inspire the notion of self-care. Alongside the gentle pools of light, woven blankets are draped over furniture. The minimalist design and neutral colours of the room elevates the
texture of these blankets; the interwoven wool builds the intimacy and togetherness of Nordic culture. Textiles are often used to create a very physical environment. Throws are hung over sofas, chairs and beds to encourage relaxation and personal well-being. Houses in Denmark will often have wicker baskets, in which a plethora of cashmere throws are stored. The combination of wood and comfort makes a room as natural as it can be. Plants are also helpful in creating a space where an individual can wind down, as they are relaxing and comforting. The introduction of nature into a room creates a pastoral environment that contrasts with the busy city life outside; it becomes a cove of comfort where one can escape into and creates a place of relaxation. The heart of Scandinavian design is the large wooden table: the centre piece of a room. The table will have dimensions that reinforce togetherness; seating people closely together. The large wooden table keeps everyone grounded and will become a sanctuary of memories. How buildings are designed can really affect how we behave. The Scandinavians preserve an individual’s well-being through their interiors, trying to capture hygge in a room. The principle idea is to create SpaLife | 13
“WITHOUT BEING CONSCIOUS OF IT, THE LAYOUT OF A ROOM WILL DICTATE OUR BEHAVIOUR AND MOOD.”
a space where one can take a step away from their busy lives and focus on themselves and their loved ones; a place where they can wrap themselves up in a blanket and enjoy a warm mug of tea or have their friends and family over to create memories and a sense of togetherness. The idea of hygge is something we shwould all try to inject into our homes.
by Ali Townsend
Photo: Natural light sources brighten the room and timber and cream interiors create a cosy dwelling. Š Timothy Buck
Previous Page: The beautiful architecture of Doge’s Palace. © Chelsea Davies
VENICE
IN A DAY
I
wake to a morning of monochrome grey, yet the promise of a brighter afternoon hides behind clouds like a scolded child. Water sloshes over pavements already stained with the rise and fall of an encroaching sea and my boots crunch over debris discarded by the rising tide. The air is thick with the call of gulls. They swoop and sweep for the goods offered by a nearby fish market. One is lucky in his pursuit and snatches a cut. He flies to the steeple of a nearby church and cries loudly in victory as mottled scales quickly disappear into a greedy beak. * The streets are winding, each marked with flecks of sun-bleached paint and the reflection of canals wavering on crumbling brickwork. I cross bridges and pass shop fronts crowded with detailed masks and colourful glass. Often I walk paths no wider than my outstretched arms. Here, in the alleyways of more residential districts, a scent distinctive to the passage
of water lingers. My fingers catch mazelike walls that usher explorers to their eventual destination and they are damp to touch. I look to see that the sky is a thin line overhead. After many twists and turns, backtracks and dead ends leading to water, I eventually find myself on the plain of Piazza San Marco. Groups of tourists are evident by shouts in multiple languages, though they are greatly reduced compared to the heaving masses seen throughout the summer months. In early spring, the square is almost void of people. I enter St Mark’s Basilica without a pause of breath. Whatever light that enters the church is absorbed by mosaic tiles that shield the ceiling like armour. There is a heavy silence to this place, one that I am afraid to break. It’s a relief to fall under the open sky once again. Saltwater blows across the open sea though I am somewhat sheltered by the walls of Doge’s Palace. I enter the former seat of the city’s government, SpaLife | 17
Top: The Bridge of Sighs. © Chelsea Davies Bottom: Wandering in the old Jewish Quarter of Venice. © Chelsea Davies
“A GONDOLA, STUFFED WITH BOOKS, RESTS PRECARIOUSLY ON WOODEN FLOORBOARDS; ITS LACQUER MARKED WITH WATER STAINS.”
admiring the colourful scenes of Venetian life that hang on richly decorated walls. I never do discover who Doge was, however. * Diligently, I pay my respects to the Bridge of Sighs, walking further beyond its crowded balustrade towards the Arsenale di Venezia. Streets in this area are quieter and civilian boats bob on gentle waves. It’s strange. I know that this island city will eventually be lost to the sea, but it is still a shock to witness water sloshing onto pavements that it should not reach. I turn inland, losing myself to the floods until I find Libreria Acqua Alta. It’s a mess of literature in all languages; a chaos of publications, prints and newspapers. A gondola, stuffed with books, rests precariously on wooden floorboards; its lacquer marked with water stains. A draft enters through an open window, stirring pages and my salt-tangled hair. I exclaim at a stairway constructed of books, then spot a reading room that has slowly become reclaimed by the canal edge it exists on. The sun finally makes its way through clouds and I watch dust motes dance in shards of light cast by the shadows of window shutters. * I notice details on our departure. The way canals react to the motion of boats, the caress of dawn on the water. The sun is warm on my upturned face, making it that much harder to abandon my time here to memory. I leave Venice in a haze that awakens the city with a golden kiss and reveals the crests of mountains on the distant horizon. Their snow-capped peaks are a dusting of cream that captures the colours of the sunrise. by Chelsea Davies 18 | SpaLife
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PALM OIL ISN’T
GOOD NEWS Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil grown on the African oil palm tree which is found throughout the regions of Africa, Asia, and North and South America. Brianna Henderson delves deeper into the issue about the detrimental effects the production of this oil has.
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alm oil is found in approximately 40–50 percent of household products, including: confectionery, cosmetics, shampoo, cleaning products and washing detergents, and baked goods such as bread and pizza. Deforestation is one of the main concerns of palm oil production because forests must be cleared for the construction of plantations, meaning a devastating amount of land is being destroyed in order to make room for palm 20 | SpaLife
Photo: Deforestation is just one of the many devastating effects of the palm oil industry.
oil trees. According to The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an area equivalent to the size of 300 football fields is destroyed every hour. Deforestation contributes to the mass death of many species, with statistics showing that a third of all mammal species in Indonesia are critically endangered. Sumatran tigers and rhinos, sun bears, pygmy elephants, clouded leopards and proboscis monkeys are among some of the animals severely affected by the palm oil industry. Not only are their numbers reduced by the loss of land, but animals are regularly found buried alive or are killed by machetes, guns and other weaponry. Deforestation not only affects the animals living in these countries, it contributes to the global issue of climate change. Constructing the plantations means clearing the rainforest by burning valuable timber and forest undergrowth, which then emits large quantities of smoke into the atmosphere. Climate change is a very serious problem and, as a population, it’s heartbreaking that we as humans are the reason behind it.
Another issue with the palm oil industry is the detrimental effects it can have on the citizens who live in the countries where the oil is produced. Supposedly, employment levels for natives of the areas where palm oil is produced should rise, as a result of the increased number of jobs available to work on the plantations. But the land taken for construction affects the livelihood of these individuals. What many may not realise is how the native people are affected in other ways. They may have cuts and bruises and suffer from heat exhaustion. Child labour is a problem too. Children work on the sites carrying large quantities of heavy fruit after having spent hours bending down collecting the produce from the plantation floors for very little to no wage. What should we do about it? To reduce our palm oil consumption, it’s worth doing some research into the products we use and see just how many of those use unsustainable palm oil. However, companies will catch you out. Palm oil isn’t always named explicitly on ingredient lists; there are more than 170 names for the oil making it easy to miss. Look out for ingredients beginning with ‘palm’, ‘stear-’, ‘glyc-’ and ‘laur-’, for example, ‘glyceryl’ and ‘stearic acid’. Other ingredients which are hiding the nature of palm oil are ‘vegetable oil’ and ‘vegetable fat’. Some companies are beginning to source sustainable palm oil that doesn’t cause deforestation or harm people or animals. In April this year, the supermarket brand Iceland became the first UK retailer to SpaLife | 21
Photo Opposite: Graduating is a big achievement that will lead you on to your next career step. © Andre Hunter
pledge against the use of palm oil and plan to remove all palm oil products from their own brand range. This is a massive step in the right direction! Although we cannot completely remove palm oil from every product because the alternatives such as soy, rapeseed or sunflower oil all produce the same destructive effects as palm oil, we can try to minimise our usage. In November 2018, Iceland revealed their Christmas advert, however, for ‘political’ reasons, it was banned from airing on TV. The advert was an animation featuring a young girl and an orangutan whose home had been destroyed as a result of deforestation caused by the palm oil industry (something that can hardly be considered controversial). However, soon enough, the video amassed a large audience, with outraged users sharing the advert and drawing widespread public attention to the issue at hand. To reduce our consumption, look for products with the RSPO label (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) to ensure the use of certified sustainable oil, or you can look for the Green Palm label. Unfortunately, if you were to boycott all products that use palm oil there wouldn’t be much available to you, so try to buy from brands that either don’t use it or use sustainable oil. The best supermarkets, according to Ethical Consumer, are Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, however, these companies may not be easily accessible on a student budget, but if you can swap a few of your regular items for palm oil-free alternatives then it all helps! Other brands that don’t use 22 | SpaLife
palm oil are Weight Watchers, Warburton’s (certain products), Rude Health, MOMA and Kallo. And, still making a difference by using sustainable palm oil are brands Walkers, Fox’s, Burtons Biscuits and Bahlsen. A few companies to try and avoid: • Nestlé • Colgate-Palmolive • Procter & Gamble • Kellogg’s • Hershey’s • Mars • L’Oreal • UniLever Another way to reduce the amount of palm oil products you buy is to use Buycott, an app which scans products to reveal their exact contents and their rate of sustainability. This can be helpful not just for finding out whether something you’re consuming contains palm oil, but for other health benefits too. Companies and organisations are desperately pushing for change and are raising awareness of the devastating effects of palm oil on the environment. Greenpeace are actively contacting big brands, pressuring them to reveal their palm oil suppliers. Selfridges aim to be palm oil-free by Christmas 2019, and are also in collaboration with Iceland. Hopefully, more companies will opt for change and help us to become a more ethical world. by Brianna Henderson
WHAT TO DO AFTER GRADUATION
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nyone panicking about what to do after university please stand up. So, that’s everyone then? According to LinkedIn, graduate recruitment is up over the past three years (with professional services being the leading sector for graduate recruitment), but it still feels like a daunting task looking for ‘proper adult jobs.’ So, how do you start looking for a job in the creative industries? Begin thinking about what you want to do and the steps you can take. If you don’t know what you want to do, don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to The Independent, only half of UK graduates are working in a field that relates to their degree and 96 percent of graduates switch careers by the time they reach the age of twenty-four. Everyone’s goals shift, and some people work many different jobs until they find what motivates them. That’s okay. Although third year is stressful, you can still make time to gain experience and explore different career options. SpaLife | 23
Photo Opposite: The path after graduation can be dauting, but it doesn’t need to be.
During university I undertook voluntary and freelance work in order to build up my portfolio. This is one method, but you could also have a year in the industry, or ask if you can intern for one day a week while you’re still studying. There are lots of different options that will build up your portfolio. When considering job opportunities have a think about your personality type. Are you a restless person and prefer a varied day with some travel? Do you prefer to work in a more solitary environment or with a lively team? Would a big or small office be best for your development? You don’t have to think about all these things straight away, but they are good indicators as to whether you will be happy in a role. Look for current job adverts, do they fit with what you would like out of a career? What could you compromise on? Contact local companies speculatively, tailoring your CV and cover letter to their businesses. If there are no current opportunities, keep a note of organisations you would be interested in and stay in touch – something might become available. If you’re wondering what companies are looking for when recruiting, business owner Natalie Sherman, from social media agency Naturally Social, says that when she’s recruiting, she considers “initiative, creativity and honesty. That’s what I’m always on the lookout for. Graduates aren’t going to have the years of experience many others have and I know how frustrating that can feel. I’ve been there! But many companies recruit 24 | SpaLife
on culture and personality in this day and age: the personal attributes that lend themselves to a positive and productive working environment. Skills can be taught, attitudes less so.” And then, for the next step. It’s exciting when you get an interview! For about two minutes. Then you start worrying about how it will go. Nerves are okay if you channel them in the right way. One of Natalie’s clients, Chris, at Open Dawes Training says, “don’t ignore nerves because that will be counterproductive. Acknowledge and channel them, letting them fuel positive, rather than negative, energy.” Go into the interview knowing that they want to hire you – they wouldn’t have asked to see you otherwise. Gain perspective by remembering that interviewers are likely to be nervous as well. But you can always seek help: the careers team do interview practise, so you can ask them for help beforehand. Research the company so you can ask questions. Have they recently signed a client or opened a new office? Think about unique questions, this will make you memorable and is something that you can do to prepare and feel more in control of the situation. Salary queries are often shied away from but don’t be afraid to ask them. Just make sure it’s not the first thing you ask. Have a viable salary range in mind before you attend an interview. Sometimes you need to work for free in order to build up a portfolio, but you need to know where to draw the line. You are just starting out
in a career, but it is a career, not voluntary work. This also applies to freelancing. If you are unsuccessful then try not to feel disheartened, a ‘no’ isn’t always a ‘no’, it’s a ‘not now’, so stay in contact with the company, even if there are no current opportunities. Getting back in touch shows initiative and motivation to find the right opportunity. I know this from personal experience as I’m currently working at social media agency, Naturally Social , and I got back in touch after not being offered a role the first time I applied. The best piece of advice I’ve been given is to persevere when things don’t go as planned. It is something to bear in mind if, like most graduates, you receive a rejection for a role you really wanted. It may take time, but the right opening will eventually come along. If something that
seems right doesn’t work out it’s because a more suitable opportunity will present itself. Good luck! Websites for freelancer portfolios: www.squarespace.com www.wix.com www.portfoliobox.net Websites & apps for creative and graduate jobs: www.upwork.com www.milkround.com/jobs/graduate jobs.theguardian.com/jobs/creative www.britishcreativejobs.co.uk www.thedrum.com creativepool.com by Anna Wilkinson from Naturally Social SpaLife | 25
Photo Opposite: Fame and celebrity isn’t always as glittering and easy as it looks. © Pawel Szvma
WHY DO WE LOVE TO ‘CANCEL’ CELEBRITIES?
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mong the illustrious mysteries of social media lore, a subculture has begun to emerge known as ‘cancelling’. In simple terms, it is a unified decision of the masses to retract their support for a particular celebrity. This online ‘cancel culture’ has of course been effective (to an extent) with certain deserving culprits, but what happens when those undeserving few get subjected to the same treatment? Although it is important to be conscientious of who we support, we have to ask the question: where do we draw the line? Once an individual has become renowned, they are sentenced without trial to be bound by the malicious fate of fame. Signing away their rights of authentic, free self-expression to be twisted and taunted by the funhouse mirror of the media. Packaged and produced for the purpose of dissemination in our media-saturated
society that encourages us to manufacture our fantasies. Celebrities are exactly like that, a breathing likeness of our most deep-rooted desires. Walking tapestries of the hopes and dreams we had envisioned for ourselves, interwoven with a sense of the ubiquitous adoration towards them that many of us crave. We have a hungering need for authority figures and a need to celebrate them. We raise those who we believe deserve our adulation above ourselves. And in our world that is moulded and tinted by the media, we choose the synthetic, perfectly framed role models we have been spoonfed as patterns for our aspirations. We place these celebrities on symbolic pillars where they become something more akin to a sculpture of worship than a human being. The dehumanising effect of this pedestal the celebrity is now placed upon SpaLife | 27
Photo Opposite: Fame. © Scott Webb
causes them to exist on a different level. A position that brings as much reward as it does risk – as they are placed above us all, but with far further to fall. Individuals with the aura of celebrity are more akin to the gods of Ancient Greece – all powerful deities that must be worshipped. But as much as we all quietly ache as a society for someone to worship, we also wish to see those same people torn from their divine post. Running parallel to our tendency to elevate these celebrities above us, is our wish to see them exist alongside us – to be reminded that they’re human too. We take comfort in their fall because there is nothing more humanising than suffering. Though many find inspiration in the comeback tales of a previously disgraced celebrity like Macaulay Culkin or Robert Downey Jr, some of us would prefer to see an Icarus rather than a Phoenix. We enjoy seeing the once celebrated become cautionary tales, to see them crash and burn and slowly sink into the dark ocean of irrelevancy. There is a sense of emotional voyeurism in the Icarus falls of celebrities. Seeing that the ones we held above us are now below us seems like a reclaiming of the power we once gave them. It raises our morale to see them fail – we watch them burn and use it to keep ourselves warm. Sometimes a celebrity will fall from grace themselves but more recently, fans have been tearing down the pedestal themselves. With the rise of social media, the figurative public burning of celebrities has become easier and easier to set alight. 28 | SpaLife
For example, though she is never far from criticism, Kim Kardashian found herself under literal and metaphorical fire during the California Wildfires. After hiring private firefighters to protect her and her neighbour’s homes, people were quick to criticise her. Many focused on the fact that the Kardashians and other wealthy celebrities were able to buy their protection whilst civilians were left to suffer. Ultimately environmental issues like this demonstrate class inequality as it is the rich that will rise from the ashes unscathed as opposed to those without wealth. However, did we expect Kim Kardashian to be the one to save everyone from the California fires? Did we, as a society, anticipate her to single-handedly put out those fires? Fire hose in one hand, overpriced eyeshadow palette in the other? Was she to be our well-contoured Joan of Arc? Probably not, but that is the issue when we make these celebrities our Gods, as soon as they demonstrate human behaviour, we cast them out of the heaven. If Kim Kardashian was any other person, we wouldn’t question her utilising resources to protect her family and home during an environmental disaster. Yet, the celebrity pedestal has dehumanised her enough for us to believe she exists solely for us – a supreme object that should adhere to our standards. Once a celebrity steps out of line, we tear down the pedestal and shame them for thinking they were above us even though we were the ones who placed them there in the first place. We position them
on a throne made of our attention and devotion only to revolt against them once we realise our wish for kings and queens isn’t being fulfilled by the jesters we put on the royal seat. Ultimately, it’s not the celebrities that are the problem, it’s our entitlement to them, our right to see them as objects of our aspirations and nothing more. The image we have of these celebrities is synthetic and simulated. We have retreated so far into the illusion of celebrities that we forget that we created them ourselves. No longer can we allow these human beings to take on the personification of our hollow dreams. As a society, we must realise these celebrities are not products created solely for us to consume or prophets of success to worship, but humans. Humans that should be allowed the same room for mistakes that we allow for ourselves. by India Pyne SpaLife | 29
Photo Opposite: The gaming world always has it’s ups and downs.
© Ales Nesetril
GAMING: THE HIGHS & LOWS OF 2018
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018 could arguably be the best year of this decade for gaming, with smash hits like God of War and Read Dead Redemption 2. However, when you consider the other side of the spectrum, it could balance out to be a mixed performance due to underwhelming games that promised much and didn’t deliver. Firstly, let’s focus on the bright and right side of games. The year started off strong with Monster Hunter: World coming out in January which received well-deserved praise from fans and critics to show the developers how good of a game they had created. It became instantly loved by many and was very soon on their ‘Game of the Year’ watch list. Open-world role playing games (RPG) have been around for years now, but over the last few years it has become something of a necessity for big developers, as it means more story and more time for the consumers to play their games. The most noteworthy are Far Cry 5, Assassins Creed:
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Odyssey and Marvel’s Spider-Man. There are plenty more to name, but the point is that the genre of big action-adventure, RPG open-world heavy-hitters are always coming into our hands to play because we simply love them. But the question is, are they becoming too common now? Is it becoming tiresome to travel across the entire map on your limited-stamina horse just to look for cigarette cards over and over again, just like in Red Dead Redemption 2? Nevertheless, they keep getting pumped out throughout the year and will most likely continue to. The number of RPG games are also an advantage to other developers because it gives them the chance to do something different – God of War is the first game that comes to mind. Due to the fact that not only was it given ‘Game of the Year’ by many critics and at the Game Awards, but because of the differences and bold choices the game was unique, heart-warming and beautiful while still maintaining its blood
and gore as you fight terrifying mythological beasts and monsters. The diverse genres and play styles in games in 2018 were simply outstanding, from RPG’s to narrativedriven games to 2D animations like Celeste. Nonetheless, I hate to put a downer on this article but, unfortunately not everything was perfect in 2018 and developers didn’t always get it right. Not all games last year hit such heights as others did, for example Metal Gear Survive, which was the spinoff game to Metal Gear Solid V: T he Phantom Pain (MGS5). What we hoped to be a new adventure in the MGS world about starvation and dehydration, surviving hordes of zombie-like creatures and four player co-op with your friends and other players all over the world, sadly turned out to be an annoying repetitive chore to gather resources like plants and water which ran out incredibly fast. Therefore, it did not live up to the hype and optimism many of us had. The main thing missing from this game is Hideo Kojima, SpaLife | 31
Photo Opposite: Volunteering can be a wonderful thing but there are also more complicated issues to consider. © Aaron Blanco-tejedor
“2018 COULD ARGUABLY BE THE BEST YEAR OF THIS DECADE FOR GAMING.”
the director, producer, screenwriter and game designer of the previous version – so a pretty big chunk is missing to say the least. His absence is massively noticed and nothing fills the hole he left, leaving the game underwhelming and nowhere near the same quality as MGS5. One of the biggest disappointments coming out of 2018 happened towards the end of the year in November with Fallout 76. The announcement came early in the year and was a massive hit. It amassed a lot of hype and excitement because of its huge fan base and community. Players had to wait three years after the previous Fallout 4 was published by Bethesda. Obviously, this was on everyone’s radar and rightly so, the premise and concept of this game was amazing – running around playing with other players in your world with no computer AI friend or foes, it’s all other gamers playing with you. As well as that, at any moment a nuke can be set-off and destroy everything you have built and yourself, along with all the classic Bethesda-style mechanics of character creating and first-person fighting style. If you’ve never played a Bethesda game, then this will all sound bonkers to you but for those of you who have, you know what I’m talking about. Overall, this game is fun with your friends, but I don’t expect many players to stick around too long as there are better games to play that came out last year and will also come out this year. But overall, 2018 was an incredible year for games with some stunning graphics, Oscar-worthy voice acting and addictive gameplay. I loved 2018! It’s safe to say that it produced some 10/10 games that will go down in the history books. Now let’s see what the rest of 2019 has to bring!
by Harry King 32 | SpaLife
RE-THINKING
VOLUNTEERISM
I
was seventeen when I embarked on a volunteer trip to an orphanage in northern Kerala, India. Myself and nine others made the trip along with two of our teachers and a local expert. None of us were experienced travellers or volunteers, we carried no qualifications and we had no expertise. We were teenagers who were given the opportunity to go abroad and we called it charity. We researched, fundraised and planned for months ahead of the trip, taking all the necessary travel precautions. The money we raised from our school and our local community was enough to buy the children of the orphanage school supplies, books, sports equipment and toys.
We were proud of the effort we had made and the resources we were able to pull together, all in aid of these children who needed it. We never questioned why we were doing it or if we were the right people to go there. We never considered that, whilst these resources would help them, maybe all of us didn’t need to travel there as well, or whether the work we did over there would have any longterm impact or would just be temporary. We had worked hard and were chosen by our school, so wasn’t that reason enough? Did we need to consider anything else? Having flown into Kochi on the first day, we visited tourist spots and were shown around the scenic areas of the Indian state. SpaLife | 33
But day three came and we drove up into the hills. The orphanage was on a steep incline in the middle of nowhere, situated on the outskirts of a very poor village. The children in the home were either abandoned, orphaned or had been taken from dangerous families. Arriving in our minibus to the orphanage, the children flocked to greet us. We all got out of the bus and were immediately showered with kindness; bindis were placed on our foreheads by the older women of the village and we were given necklaces, gifts and posters. It was overwhelming but wonderful to be welcomed into this foreign place as family. Their kindness and excitement will forever be cemented in my memory. We spent the week working with these children. We taught them about England and our school; we ran lessons in different classes such as music, dance, art and science; we visited local villages as part of our outreach programme and gave the people of these villages equipment and resources to help them survive in such a rural and run-down area. I was incredibly proud to be a part of this trip, to help people and to be a force for change. I left India feeling accomplished and I didn’t doubt any aspects of our trip or the incentives behind going. But three years on, I’m beginning to do just that. I can’t help but feel differently towards it now. Perhaps we really did nothing to deserve such kindness and appreciation. 34 | SpaLife
Recently, I listened to a feminist podcast called Kicking The Kyriarchy and they featured an episode on the idea of ‘voluntourism’. I found myself listening to this on the train and felt a tightness in my chest. They interviewed several people who had also travelled to poorer countries as teenagers and volunteered there. They discussed the negative impacts that privileged westerners can have on poorer societies and their real intentions behind going. They spoke of this idea of middleclass, western teenagers volunteering for the sake of their CVs and their applications to university. This resonated with me because I had done the same thing. Whilst I know that my intentions behind going were predominantly positive, I now question what we actually brought to the country and how we’ve used the experience we had since then. A vast majority of our trip was spent taking pictures and recording our surroundings. We took pictures with the children and made fun videos with them. We sensationalised their lives by doing this; because we found their home and school so culturally shocking, we then took advantage. These were pictures we then took home and showed friends and family; passing them around eagerly, showing off how brave we were to visit a place so poor, unfortunate and run-down as this. We never considered how strange this was for those children, we just wanted people to tell us how selfless we were to
volunteer there. In reality, our actions widened the poverty gap between us and the children, because we placed ourselves above them. We thought that because we had more money and went to a nicer school we were allowed to exploit their lives for our own personal gain. The physical resources were all we actually brought to India. The lessons we taught to those children were sweet but merely symbolic; they learnt nothing they hadn’t already. Those children had amazing teachers and already knew about science and English. But because the lessons were coming from white, privileged teenagers they seemed to carry more meaning to us. The resources we handed out to them, although plentiful, didn’t need to be given in person. We could have delivered them in other ways. But we gave it to them in person because it made us feel good, it humbled us to see their faces light up and in fact, many of us cried. So I suppose the real question I have now, is were our intentions behind going purely selfish? We were only seventeen, and at least I can speak for myself and say that I never considered any of the negative elements of the trip whilst I was there. Whilst our naivety and age don’t make our actions acceptable, I think it does explain why we acted the way we did. We knew no better than to take advantage of such a trip. And whilst it doesn’t do well to dwell
on the past, I think it’s important to take these lessons into the future. As university students, we take whatever opportunities we may be given to travel the world, whether it be on a gap year, Erasmus or graduate trip. Before we settle down into the world of work many of us want to see the world and there’s no harm in doing this, but if you take anything away from my words, let it be this: remember that these places you’re visiting are people’s homes; something that can be easy to forget because a country or place is feels foreign to you. So don’t sensationalise their lives and don’t overstep their hospitality. You are a visitor – respect your surroundings and the different situations you come across and once you’ve acknowledged the privilege you hold in being able to travel at all, use it to educate yourself and others around you. If you do decide to volunteer in a poorer country, do it for the right reasons. Do it to help others and not to pad out your own CV. Work hard to make a change and help people but, if you realise that your intentions are not purely selfless and you are in fact doing this only to help yourself, stop, turn around and come home.
by Molly Thompson SpaLife | 35
Opposite: Beth Pearce, Rêverie, acrylic on canvas, 12.5x17.5cm. © Beth Pearce
Next Left Page: Beth Pearce, Lettering and Blind Contour. © Beth Pearce
BETH PEARCE: A BUDDING ARTIST
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orn in Sunderland, England, but growing up in Tirana, Albania, Beth Pearce made a big move relocating back to England in 2017. She is now undertaking a degree in Primary Education and Contemporary Arts Practice at Bath Spa University. Beth is much more mature than her nineteen years and has a creative flair evident in her varied works of art that sway between the structured and stylistic nature of lettering, the free and abstract style of blind contouring and the grace and refinement of her paintings. “I’ve always enjoyed art, I remember in year five having this incredible art teacher and just absolutely loving it”, she tells me. Beth is always looking to experiment and move outside her comfort zone and this is what her art course allows her, and pushes her, to do. Avigdor Arikha and Frank Auerbach are two artists that have recently inspired her portrait practice but she also finds inspiration in the world around her. The digital world has now become a hub for artistic communities and engagement. “A lot of my inspiration does come from what I’ve seen on Instagram and online” she states, and names Boris Schmitz (@borisschmitz) and Minnie Small (@semiskimmedmin) as inspirations for her work and desire to try new directions. She also uses Instagram as a place to showcase her art and be a part of a creative community. As a young and budding artist, I’m sure we’ll have much more incredible work to see from her. To see more of Beth’s beautiful work head toInstagram: @alicedrawsinwonderland. by Jemima Ung
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ZACHARY YOUNG: BECOMING A CURATOR Zachary Young is a Welsh curator and artist. He is currently in his third year at Bath Spa University studying Fine Art. Amy Frost chats with him about how he started curating exhibitions and what advice he would give to anyone wanting to get into curating. SpaLife | 39
Previous Photo: Portrait of Zachary Young. © Zachary Young
Amy: When did you first get into curating? Zachary: It came about in my first year
at university. We were set a project where we had to produce work outside of the university. I had a relative who had an empty house in Bath and I contacted them and asked if I could put on an exhibition inside it. They accepted and I held my first exhibition there. From that day on, I knew I wanted to continue curating. I guess you could say that I like to control how you see things or how things are presented.
to explore the idea and process of the artwork. To me, that can be the artwork itself, rather than the final piece. So, what I thought is that I could record a conversation between myself and an artist discussing their ideas, and write the recording up in script format and make it into a book. The book is called Project Ideas and is a book where anyone who needs ideas can open it and read examples of conversations by artists about their ideas, and therefore gain ideas from it.
A: What made you want to curate a show rather
A:
Do you do any artwork now or do you just curate shows? Z: The way I see it is that I am half artist, half curator. So, in my spare time I call myself a curator, and at university I call myself an artist. Within my artistic practice, I have tried to make the interest I have for curating part of it by exploring what an exhibition is and ways of presenting it; for example as a mini or large-scale exhibition, or presenting it in unusual ways. I am also questioning what a curator is and what makes an artwork. I want
A: What have been your most recent exhibitions? Z: The exhibition I curated called Cynefin
than create artwork for a show, like everyone else? Z: I think it came from not having the confidence to show my own work; I felt like my work wasn’t presentable. Whereas I feel I can understand others’ work better than my own. I enjoy having a discussion with the artist and focusing on their ideas; putting the focus on them rather than myself. A:
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Why include the full conversation, not just the ideas? Z: When I started the project, I did just want the ideas, but what I discovered is that the conversation is as important as the idea. I really enjoyed having the conversations, and I love the bizarre “um’s” and “ahh’s” and the slang words because I’ve noticed that with exhibitions and galleries these days, they communicate to people in a formal language. I want to get rid of that language barrier and make it less formal, as it invites far more people to the exhibition, because you don’t feel you need to be qualified or sound a certain way to appreciate art.
for a fellow Welsh artist, Dafydd Davison, at The Roper Gallery in Bath. This and my last exhibition for Cybi Williams have been my only two exhibitions so far that I have curated for people outside of university and Bath.
OK, so you’re not just sticking to curating for university students, you are branching out? Z: Exactly. It’s quite scary, as the artists I’m working with are far more professional than me and have a lot more knowledge and experience, but I see this as a great learning curve for me. The way I see it, the best way to become a curator is to get hands-on experience within the real world. A:
A: So, what are you wanting to do after university? Z: I’m not exactly sure, but I think I want
to do curating. I enjoy working with artists and helping them display their work. But I’d like to figure it out by working or volunteering in a gallery for a few years, and then see what happens.
I remember you posting on Facebook that you are on the board of a gallery in Bath. Can you tell me about that? Z: Yes. I got that job by curating a one-day exhibition in my second year at the Roper Gallery, which I simply did because it was cheap to hire. It was very successful, and I mentioned to the owner that I’m interested in curating and from that conversation he took me on as an assistant. Now I’m part of the board which is quite exciting. A:
in one of my exhibitions at 44AD in Bath, I had only four hours to set up work for two artists. One was easy to set up, but the other was difficult. I realised that you can’t show everything; you have to be selective in order to truly appreciate the artwork, and some artists find this difficult to deal with. A: What advice would you give to anyone interested
in curating? Z: Well, my advice for anyone is to just chase your dream. You don’t have to follow the traditional routes. If you want to do an exhibition just email loads of people. You will get a lot of rejection, but out of all of them you will get at least one ‘yes’, and that ‘yes’ will be the start of something. What I’ve learnt most is that you’ve got to take all the opportunities you can get. If you’re a student, take advantage of the opportunities given to you, and take advantage of being a student! When you’re older you won’t be able to afford to, or have the time, to put on free exhibitions, so do them now whilst you can. Start early, and if you want to do something, just do it.
A: What would you say you have learnt so far, in
terms of curating? Z: Time is extremely important when it comes to curating. I have learnt that you can’t set up an exhibition in a day (as much as I tried); that how you display the work is as important as the work itself; and that not every artist works the same way. For example,
by Amy Frost SpaLife | 41
PAINTING THE OCEAN:
FREYA HILL Freya Hill is a third year Bath Spa Fine Art student whose work is exhibited with Beyond the Sea, a gallery in Cornwall. Here, she discusses her practice, successes and the opportunities she’s had.
T
he focus of my practice is the exploration of the ocean, capturing a small element of this with paint. Oil paint allows me to be expressive with my mark-making and produces rich, deep colours of blues and turquoises which express the vibrant seas. Everyone has a different view of the ocean; some love it and some are petrified of it due to its unpredictable nature. However, I find it fascinating that, one day it can be almost tropical and inviting and the next, powerful and overwhelming. 42 | SpaLife
Photo: Freya Hill, Untitled, acrylic and varnish on board, 40x40cm. © Freya Hill
Most of all, I find it peaceful as it reminds me of happy times on family holidays to Cornwall, which has become like a second home to me. I have always had this connection with the sea; this feeling of peace and belonging. I want the viewer to feel my emotions and connection with the sea when they see my work; to become submerged with it as I am. In April 2018, I decided to curate my first solo exhibition at The Rock Institute, Cornwall. I knew it was ambitious as it was my first time curating my own show and, as I knew the location well, I was aware that it wasn’t going to be very busy. Nevertheless, I felt that it was important to show my work in the place where it was inspired. The show was on for three days and in total and around fifty people visited. It was exciting knowing that fifty new people were seeing my work for the first time. The exhibition was a great success, and someone wanted to buy one of my pieces at the end of the show. Overall, the experience increased my confidence as I realised that people are interested in what I’m creating.
Next toP: Freya Hill, Bondi Beach, oil on board, 122x122cm. © Freya Hill
Next Bottom: Freya Hill, Polzeath Waves, oil on board, 122x122cm. © Freya Hill
During the summer of 2018, I had the amazing opportunity to display and sell my paintings in the gallery Beyond the Sea in Padstow, Cornwall. It’s always been a dream to display my art in Cornwall, by the sea. The intention when I put my business card through their letterbox was just to get the gallery to look at my website, at the most. It was the most pleasant surprise when I got a message asking to meet up with them to discuss the possibility further. In the space of three months, I sold all my second year work, and nearly all from my first year work, that I had made at Bath Spa University. I’m incredibly lucky that Beyond the Sea are so supportive and understanding that I’m still a student but are giving me the most incredible opportunities by getting new people to see my work and who also want to buy it. The gallery also organised to display and sell my work at the Affordable Art Fair in London in March of this year, which was so exciting as it was the first time my art had been exhibited in London, reaching a wider audience. I’m incredibly lucky and grateful for the opportunities that I have been given whilst working with Beyond the Sea and I’m very excited for what is to come next. To see more of Freya’s work, head to: www.freyahill.co.uk
by Freya Hill SpaLife | 43
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made for students, by students. spalife magazine offers a space for uniqueness. we aim to inspire, celebrate and encourage our fellow students. spalife is an opportunity to demonstrate what we can do. find more information at: www.bsuspalifemagazine.com Bath Spa University Students' Union is a Registered Charity, no: 1139037.