Collodion Tintype by © Lorna Simpson
Hello, my name is Oonagh Devoy. Although born in England I consider myself to be a Scottish artist having lived most of my life in Angus.
In 1995 I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art with a BA Hons in Drawing and Painting.
In September 2015 I began my studies again, this time at Gray's School of Art to do my Masters. My proposal for the MFA Studio Practice Pathway was to work in two areas; photography and painting. My love for each is equal and I wished to devote my time to both specialisms. My inspiration is the coastline, the battle between man and sea. The litter we carelessly dump and the erosion of the coastline as the sea fights back. Buildings that we have erected to protect our shores in wartime: now delicious crumbling textures, decaying monoliths of forgotten history. The flotsam and jetsam washed upon our shores: litter to some but treasure to me.
“I pray for the angel of uncertainly to visit by plate”. One of my favourite quotes voiced by the photographer Sally Mann on the collodium process. It embraces the fact that accidents out with the control of the artist can sometimes create better outcomes than the original intention. Building on my experience with traditional darkroom equipment I wish to invest in a plate camera and make my own wet and dry plate experiments.
Perfection to me is the beauty inherent in imperfections. Copper turned verdigris, sea worn dunnage, carcasses stripped of their flesh, oxidised farm machinery cogs: treasure that can be found washed daily upon our shores. Each time I visit the beach I collect this treasure, enthused and excited by what others consider to be rubbish. This rubbish being my palette to produce my mixed media works. The work of artists such as Kurt Schwitters, Ben Nicholson and Braque are my inspiration. My love of colour, texture and unnoticed treasures is what moves me to create.
