Visual Art Studio with Bea Last

Join artist Bea Last for a nine day portfolio development course - an intensive short course for young people that will cover various elements of the creative visual art process.

This course is for young people from Dumfries and Galloway, aged 16-25 years.

The course will take place over 9 days on the following dates: 24th August – 19th October (9 days in total, Saturdays over 9 weeks) 10am – 4pm (with 3 short breaks throughout the day) at Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries.

This is a FREE opportunity but spaces are limited (12 spaces available), so you will have to book.

Booking will close on the 1st August.

Beyond this date, please email us at with the subject line 'VASS' to register your interest.

About the course:
Each day will present a specific focus such as creative drawing, drawing to perform, sculptural forms, printmaking, sketchbooks and collage. Participants will also consider documentation, installation, sourcing materials and create personal development projects in order to develop an experimental body of work, enabling the development of artistic practice. There will also be a group trip to an art gallery on Saturday 5th October.

These workshops may help to boost your portfolio for applying to Art School or just help you explore your creative practice!

About the tutor:

Bea Last is a visual artist based in Dumfries & Galloway with a process-led practice that explores drawing in its broadest sense.

Bea’s practice has developed over the last 30 years and she has exhibited widely nationally and internationally. Recent exhibitions include Myths, Fairy Tales and Mysteries, a curated and concept related exhibition at Hof van Ryhove in the city of Ghent in Belgium from May 31 till June 16 2024. Last year she was touring The Anatomy Lesson Revisited exhibition, September 29 till October 5 2023 at de Cultuurhoek in Driebergen-Rijsenburg in the Netherlands. In 2023 Bea was a selected finalist for the prestigious Aesthetica Art Prize participating in Aesthetica's two day symposium, ART NOW exhibiting her work at the York Art Gallery, York. Presently Bea is working towards the exhibition Time Travel Dimensions in the Nether 2025. She was also featured in the book Unlocking Women's Art by PL Henderson published in 2023.

Bea is an experienced mentor and tutor, facilitating and designing workshops for a range of participants. Bea has previously worked with Glasgow School of Art as a tutor for their Widening Participation Portfolio Preparation Course and continues to mentor privately on a one to one basis. She also worked as a Professional Creative Practitioner for Better Lives Partnership, a charity supporting young people on the autism disorder spectrum. Bea has also mentored for Upland on our Emerge Bursary Programme and facilitated Upland’s Visual Art Summer Studio in 2022 and 2023.

Find out more about what the course includes .

If possible, please bring a packed lunch with you. The Gracefield cafe is open on Saturdays (10am - 3pm).

We have some small bursaries available to help with some additional costs (such as travel, lunches, etc). If this support would be helpful for you, or if you have any further questions, then please contact us here - [email protected]

Supported by: The Holywood Trust and Creative Scotland.

Host or Publisher Upland