A gut feeling led freelance illustrator Michael Kirkham to study at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). Michael shares his memories of the printmaking workshop and credits the exceptional tutors and technicians for helping him develop his visual language.

Tell us about your time at ECA

I picked Edinburgh College of Art based on a gut feeling; I didn’t know the city or anything about the institution. However, when I came for a visit, talked with the Programme Director and saw the city, I knew my instinct had been right.

The teaching and technical staff at ECA provided me with the exact mix of support and challenge that I needed to develop my own visual language. I felt valued and trusted. Many of those tutors are now good friends of mine. 

ECA's location and views are very special - almost unbelievable. I’m sure they must have had a significant effect on my development.

I spent a lot of time socialising with students from Film & TV, Fashion, Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture - the whole range. Looking back, I can see that was a very significant part of my experience at art school. Being exposed to so many drastically different areas of creativity expanded my own sense of it.

During my studies, I spent 3 months on an exchange to Dublin which was a great experience, both educationally and socially. It was also an opportunity to be out on my own, finding out what was most important to me. I came back older, more focused and more ambitious.

The print workshop is a jewel. It’s in a new location now but run by the same exceptional technicians and with even more equipment. I spent many happy and productive evenings there with ink flying, squeegees squeaking and Classic FM on in the background.

When I wasn’t in the studio, print workshop or smoking room (it was the very end of the old days!) I would be in the library, digging in all of its sections to find its treasures. It was expansive then, and the library’s resources are mind-boggling now that ECA has become a part of the University of Edinburgh.