It has been wonderful to welcome Fiona Goss (2018) back to Loretto, as the School’s newest Artist in Residence.

Fiona joined Loretto for Sixth Form, before completing Leith School of Art's Foundation Course and gaining a First Class Masters in Fine Art from the University of Edinburgh. Still based in Edinburgh, her practice focuses on ecology and ecosystems, and her paintings and sculptures are meant to inspire hope and joy.

Fiona says it’s great to be back at the School, and she’s already feeling nice and settled in the Art Department.

She also shares that, ‘While I’m at Loretto I am researching the grounds and estate, thinking about how much it has changed over the years, and yet in lots of ways stayed the same. For example, how some of the trees have stood watching over generations of pupils. I have also been creating maps of trees and collecting rainfall data with the help of Mr Dennis Dickinson’s (Hon.) weather station. This mode of combining ecological fact with feeling is central to my artistic practice. It also feels comfortable in the environment of Loretto and its history; from the stoic lessons painted on the ceiling of Pinkie, to the pocket journal of a pupil from 1908 that depicts the flora and fauna of his time. Coming back as Artist in Residence, I have been able to research the archives, wander the grounds and think through what makes the environment so conducive to thinking.

It is also a great joy to be working with current pupils, delivering workshops on porcelain casting, oil painting and helping in any way I can. Catherine Davidson was the Artist in Residence when I was a pupil and her weekly guidance was incredibly helpful working up to my A levels – she offered an outside opinion that felt fresh, and encouraged me to think beyond the assessment and make artwork that was fundamentally interesting. Being the Artist in Residence now, I hope to inspire in the same way. From the one month I’ve been here so far, it has been a real honour to be back in this special ecosystem.

I’ll be here until December and then I’m traveling to Kenya for three months, to research and produce sustainable sculpture ahead of the New Contemporaries exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, for which I’m delighted to have been selected.’

It is fantastic to have Fiona back at Loretto and it’s clear to see she’s already having a positive impact on pupils!

To find out more about Fiona and her recent work, head to fionagossart.com.