The University of Brighton is one of three universities in the UK to have a ‘Painting Fellow’ on campus – here we hear from current fellow Daniel Petitt on his experience of working with our painting students and developing his practice in the studio on campus.
“The staff in the Painting department were all welcoming and supportive. This enabled me to hit the ground running and quickly felt at ease in the University of Brighton. Drawing – always an integral part of my work – has moved up a gear since coming to Brighton.
“Regularly giving tutorials to second year students and working closely alongside lecturer Alex Pollard to deliver weekly group crits has been extremely enjoyable and challenging in the most productive way. There is a keenness and aptitude across all students in Painting to engage with their subject and I can see why the School has such a well-deserved reputation.
“It is a privilege to be part of this. This blend of teaching and time to develop my own work is exactly the kind of balance I hoped to achieve through the fellowship. The opportunity to have more dialogue around contemporary painting with fellow practitioners, critics and curators is something I wanted to get out of the fellowship and something I have been able to access. Seeds have been sewn that will continue to flourish after 2022 has passed.
“Alongside work with second years students, I have had regular drop-in tutorials with first and third year students in my own studio and theirs. The organic nature of these conversations is one of the most stimulating aspects of being back in a university. In the second half of the fellowship, I will be leading field trips to galleries, giving presentations to students on the BA and MA courses, participating in a painting seminar at the Towner Gallery*, working towards my exhibition at the UoB Centre for Contemporary Art, and developing research projects (currently in early stages) with members of the Painting staff.
“I make full use of the library – and frequently encourage the students to do the same! Likewise with resources in the Grand Parade campus, the insight of Painting Technician James Kearns has been invaluable. The clearer southern light makes for a totally different working environment to studios I have had in London. My rate of production has accelerated significantly.
“I have time and distance to reflect on the direction my own painting practice is going in. I am expanding my teaching experience across all areas of undergraduate painting course thanks to the Freelands Foundation and support of Alex Pollard, Bernadette Kerrigan and all staff in the Painting department.”
Find out more about studying Fine Art Painting BA(Hons) at the University of Brighton.
Find out more about Daniel Petitt:
Instagram: @_daniel_pettitt_
Website: danielpettitt.co.uk
