Homes and Interiors Scotland Magazine Issue 46 March/ April 2006
By Catherine Coyle
Buying art from up- and - coming talents is an exciting prospect. For the last ten years, Edinburgh's Leith Gallery has scoured the country's art colleges, picking the best pieces from rising stars, and exhibiting them at its New Faces show. Catherine Coyle has the lowdown on some of this year's artists who are tipped for the top.
Frank To
DUNCAN OF JORDANSTONE
Twenty- four- year- old Frank To graduated with a masters in fine art from Dundee's Duncan of Jordanstone college in last September and has since enjoyed huge success, particularly in London. To was rejected from Glasgow School of Art twice when he applied to do his undergraduate and masters course there. He was also turned down by some of the city's major art galleries as a student, but has witnessed massive interest in his work outside Glasgow. His abstract style featured in 11 exhibitions throughout the UK during 2005 and 2006 is already shaping up to be a busy year for the young artist. Drawing on literary influences such as the Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, To explores the boundaries between figurative and abstract forms. He describes his style as "improvising with the activity of painting", and likens his method of visualising the subject matter prior to painting to that of Michelangelo. Currently its youngest exhibitor, To is now represented by London's Fairfax Gallery, and can count actor Patrick Stewart as a collector. His paintings range from in price from £450 to £900.