Tessa Maudlin | based in Edinburgh

BA in Painting and Printmaking, Glasgow School of Art

2018 MFA Edinburgh College of Art

More about Tessa Maudlin

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Tessa Maudlin is an Edinburgh based artist. She graduated from the Glasgow School of Art and then went on to complete a MFA at the Edinburgh College of Art.

She describes her work as a reflection of the millennial generation and her paintings are composed by bright exuberant colours and exaggerated subjects.   

Tessa grew up in Biggar, Scotland and was interested in the arts from a young age. Yet it was only in her last year of school that she realised that her passion for the arts could become her career. Nowadays Tessa is an artist based in Edinburgh. When she is not in her studio, she spends her time working with children in a creative playwork environment, be it painting or making slime.

How did you get into art? 

My family always encouraged me and supported my interest in art. My parents are scientists and academics. I was fascinated by their work, but I was in fact always more interested in their stationary sets and drawing with their highlighters. I loved to draw and once created some work on their whiteboard with a permanent marker! I liked all the creative things like baking and drawing, and it was my mum who suggested for me try a life drawing class. 

I think a lot of young people don’t understand what you can do as a career after studying art. It's not like studying maths or science where there are multiple clear career paths. Art is not as easily understood by many people or identified as a profession.  

Scotland is well known for art and culture, and both Glasgow and Edinburgh boast a rich history of artists and architects. I chose to study at the Glasgow School of Art, yet when I moved there to start my studies I didn't realise it had a cutting edge art scene. 

What does being part of the ArtThou and Maggie's NoBorders Initiative mean to you?

I knew of the work that Maggie’s did and really liked the idea of being part of a Scottish art initiative that combines my work and helps a good cause.

Cancer affects everyone in one way or another, whether a family member or a friend. It is a horrible disease and I think organisations like the Maggie’s Centre that provide emotional support to families and friends are important.Having never known my maternal grandmother who died of breast cancer before I was born and losing a close friend from school to cancer brings this all very close to home. Being part of the ArtThou project and being able to help Maggie´s means a lot to me.

In the studio with Tessa… 

I think it is important to be surrounded by others in your studio environment as you start out and develop as an artist. I work in a joint studio in Dalry with 7 other artists. The studio is an open place with metre high walls which provides a sense of privacy but it also offers the chance to exchange and discuss ideas with other artists. Being surrounded in this social and artistic environment motivates me to create and develop my work.

My artwork is inspired by nature and this exhibition resonated with my work: nature also has no borders. 

Working from home this year has given me the chance to enjoy nature. Watching the Winter unfold to Spring was magical. I appreciated having the time to slow down and appreciate my surroundings whilst working from home and bring it into my paintings. 

How do you describe your artistic style?

My style is figurative and saturated with bold and bright colours from my immediate surroundings. I sometimes think it is ironic that I like to paint in bright colours because Scotland can be a dark and grey place.  

During my time at the Glasgow School of Art I was encouraged to try out all types of artistic mediums and to explore. At that moment, my interest lay in feminist theory and performance and I believe that this was an important part of the process which helped my style to evolve.

Exploring different mediums helped to develop my passion for painting. By the time I started my masters at Edinburgh College of Art I realised that although I enjoyed art theory, I had developed an enthusiasm for painting again. 

Check out the works by Tessa Maudlin in the ArtThou No Borders Initiative here