Artist returns to college for sport project

Artist Sean Olsen recently returned to Gower College Swansea to complete a commission for the Sport Centre at Tycoch.

Sean, an ex-student of the Llwyn y Bryn campus, worked with first year Fine Art specialists to design and paint images for the college’s ‘spin room.’ Based on the theme of Tour de France, each acrylic artwork measured 4ft x 6ft and took four weeks to complete.

Current students Alex Capitanu, Nicole Potter, Georgia Marston, Jade Price, Bethany Hayman, Jodie Shannon and Julia Shushaieva worked alongside Sean.

“The group learned about new paint techniques and the importance of working as a team,” says lecturer Mike Murray, who had previously taught Sean. ”I’m very proud of how hard everyone worked together and Sean’s design is a very colourful response to the space in which it will be shown.”

Sean recently graduated from the Cardiff School of Art and Design with a First Class Honours Degree. He returned to Llwyn y Bryn in order to gain teaching experience as he plans to work as a lecturer and mixed media artist.

“I’ve learned a lot in the past three months,” he says. “I’ve been able to help the students develop their ideas and techniques while observing the staff and giving tutorials. It’s interesting to return to Llwyn y Bryn after three years at university.”

“It’s been really insightful to work with Sean on a live project like this,” adds student Alex Capitanu.

In addition to the Tour de France commission, Sean also worked with Mike to deliver workshops at Cardiff’s St David’s Hall, as part of the Romani Gypsy and Traveller Cultural Celebrations.