Great Scot | Issue 173 | 2025
Exhibiting interests
Art in the eyes of our staff
Following a call to submit to Scotch’ s inaugural staff art exhibition, it was delightful to see an array of staff step up to the plate and share their hobbies and passions with the Scotch community.“ Expressions of Interest” was an exhibition showcasing the artworks and creative pursuits of Scotch staff. All works were displayed in the Lithgow Centre Atrium throughout Term 1.
The opening night of the exhibition was well attended, with Dr Scott Marsh making a speech whilst staff enjoyed nibbles and drinks. Many of the staff artists were present and provided guests with insightful explanations on the concepts and creative processes that underpinned their creations.
“ For my second piece, I decided to include a Bauhausinspired coffee table that I had designed and built several years ago. Rather than submitting the physical table, I reinterpreted it as a poster, painted in acrylic on canvas. Drawing on the core principle of Bauhaus— simplicity,— I wanted the poster to celebrate the enduring relevance of these ideas”.
“ For my last piece, I have always enjoyed the simplicity of the art building which remind me that form should follow function, emphasising simplicity, geometric shapes, and clean lines. I wanted to design a poster on Photoshop, influenced by a classic Bauhaus poster, which reminds us that every building has its place in time, and function”.
“ I really enjoyed the idea of giving hobby artists and creators an opportunity to display their work. Appreciating the interesting and thoughtful work of your colleagues and community is both inspiring and refreshing. I hope we can do this again and would like to thank Yudha Scholes for initiating and organising the exhibition.”
Head of Commerce, Natalka Kostraby, enjoys an entirely different creative pursuit.
Head of Art, Yudha Scholes, shared his inspiration behind running the exhibition.“ It was created as a way of celebrating the exceptional, and sometimes unexpected, talents of Senior School staff outside of the classroom”.
“ We know that celebrating other’ s talents and interests builds empathy and increases knowledge and morale. It was a great way to model mutual respect and appreciation for the whole Scotch community.”
The work on display ranged from delightful needlecraft and pictures of family pets, through to exquisite millinery and jewellery and even video-based artworks.
Assistant Director of Years 7 and 8, Rob Blackmore, submitted three artworks, engaging in the likes of oils, acrylic paints and graphic design.
“ I have a dedicated studio space where I paint a range of subjects, from still life and landscapes to people. When I heard we could submit, I immediately thought of an oil on canvas still life I had created— a study of paintbrushes arranged in a jar. Originally intended as a practice piece, the canvas retains its preliminary sketches along the bottom quarter, with a small landscape study attached. In consultation with the Art Department, I chose to present it in its raw, authentic state, as a reflection of the artistic process” Rob shared.
“ I’ ve always loved being creative, and recently millinery has become a real passion. There’ s something special about turning simple materials into a beautiful and unique wearable piece. I enjoy learning traditional techniques like blocking and trimming, and I love how each piece has its own personality. It’ s a relaxing and rewarding process that allows me to slow down and focus on intricate details. For me, millinery is not just a creative outlet, but a way to connect with fashion, history, and craftsmanship in a hands-on and meaningful way.”
In a different style again, Media teacher Jamie Kane introduced his film work to us with a vivid description:“ Inspired by slow cinema works, the piece which follows the incremental movement of light across a series of bookcases from dawn and back again, allows audiences to walk past assuming it to be a photograph, or to stop and enjoy the occasional play of shadow or flickers of intensity. The work quietly calls us, from its position in a busy thoroughfare, to a state of meditation and mindfulness.”
It’ s refreshing to see expressing oneself through art is alive and well, for artists and non-artists alike. The variation in subjects and mediums was fascinating, and many staff were inspired by the submissions to showcase their own art in the future.
And, as Yudha was able to confirm, the exhibition will be held again next year.“ It is envisaged that we will hold this exhibition annually and we are looking forward to seeing what wonderful creations staff present in 2026”.
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