Shaun Fraser graduated from the Glass - BA (Hons) programme at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) in 2012. He is currently doing an MA at the Royal College of Art in London, and took part in the 2016 An Sùileachan Residency, based on the Isle of Lewis.

Tell us about your time at Edinburgh College of Art

I applied to ECA following encouragement from my art teachers at secondary school, both of whom studied at ECA. Memories which stick with me are varied, from Friday morning life-drawing sessions cradling almighty hangovers to the staff who would serve me in Mel Boys sandwich shop, the hole-in-the-wall outside the Lady Lawson Street entrance: ‘Are ye wantin’ sauce?’

Tell us about your creative practice

Much of my work draws upon the notion of identity. In particular, it explores aspects of Highland culture and in the process attempts to unravel and interpret the region’s character. By including peat and local soils into my glass castings, the work has an innate link to the landscape. That's something which I believe to be very important in my practice - the ability to evoke that sense of place.

The Highlands and Islands are a constant source of inspiration for me. It’s where I’m from, it’s where I was brought up and it’s never far from my mind. There’s a certain sense of place which I attach to the Highlands - a sense of belonging. It’s raw and it’s emotive. History runs deep in the mindset of Highlanders, and we have a special connection with the landscape and our region’s past. What I attempt to do through my practice is tap into some of that disposition. I often look to historic events which have influenced and impacted upon the contemporary Highland image in order to communicate, discuss and better appreciate it.

What did you like about ECA?

The thing that stays with me most from my four years at ECA is the fantastic people that I met whilst studying there. I still keep in touch with the vast majority of them regularly and I count them amongst my closest of friends.

One of the main opportunities art college affords you is to build a network of like-minded and mutually supportive people around you. Make the most of it.

Tell us about your experiences since leaving ECA

I’ve travelled quite a bit, completing artist residencies in Nova Scotia, the Irish Gaeltacht and sub-arctic northern Iceland. I find myself ceaselessly drawn to the north, the remote, the taciturn, the people, the landscape, the resoluteness of it all.

A lot of opportunities which have appeared to me since leaving ECA have come through the network which I developed whilst there.

What I’m most pleased about is that, bit by bit, I’m developing my art practice and building my profile. It’s really difficult trying to establish yourself in the art sphere, most of the battle is incessantly trying to find applicability for your practice.

Alumni wisdom

Glass is a fickle material to work with. It takes a lot of time to learn and can be intensely demanding at times. Stick with it though. With glass you have a substance which, once you can get it to work for you, produces astounding results.

Trying to eke out a living as an artist is tough. Make use of your time at art college to build a network of contacts and friends who will support you in the formative years ahead.