A talented young artist, shortlisted for North East sculptor of the year, says the scholarship she won at the University of Sunderland set free her ambitions.
Rebecca Marrs studied BA Fine Art and then MA Fine Art, graduating last year. Now living and working in Sunderland Rebecca has been shortlisted for the prestigious Gillian Dickinson North East Sculptor of the Year Award.
Rebecca, 24, says her success, and confidence in her work, is largely down to the scholarship, the Robson Master Scholarship Award, she was awarded in her final year.
“My scholarship allowed me to undertake much more ambitious work,” says Rebecca. “My material budget was much higher, and I found myself experimenting with my practice more because I wasn't as afraid of wasting materials.
“It also meant I could reduce the hours I was working and focus more on the MA course which allowed me to get the most out of it.”
Rebecca was supported in her studies with a DOSH (Development Office Scholarship) award. The Robson Art & Design Masters Award supports the ambitions of Sunderland Masters students studying Glass & Ceramics, Design, Photography or Fine Art.
“Receiving the DOSH Scholarship was an enormous boost to my confidence,” says Rebecca. “Since winning the Robson award I have been shortlisted for the North East Sculptor of the Year Award and had my work exhibited in the Atkinson Gallery in Somerset.”
As with most people Rebecca is continuing to work during lockdown, though admits it isn’t easy – especially for a young sculptor.
“To get through this uncertain time I have been pushing myself to create work every day,” she says. “I feel incredibly lucky that I can still do what I enjoy and make artwork during all of this.”