30 June 2004
Dundee's promising artists pick up their degrees
The parents who have inspired two of Dundee's most promising artists will join their children tomorrow
as they graduate from the University of Dundee. Among the hundreds of students graduating, Simon Reekie
and Emma Pratt whose extraordinary artworks were displayed at this years degree show will both pick up
first class degrees.
Simon Reekie's paintings included an enormous portrait of his father with a remarkable protruding nose
and a life like painting of his mother. Simon who sought inspiration in his parents' faces will pick up
his first class degree at tomorrow's ceremony. To add to the celebrations he has just been awarded
£1,400 after winning a Royal Scottish Academy scholarship. Simon's proud parents will join him to
celebrate his graduation even though they were shocked to see their portraits when they were unveiled
earlier this year.
As the daughter of a chef, Emma Pratt has been playing with the vegetable fat her father uses to create
pastry since a young age. Inspired by her childhood, Emma went on to create amazing sculptures made of
vegetable fat and tomorrow, joined by her father she will receive her first class degree. Like Simon,
Emma has won a Royal Scottish Academy scholarship for sculpture and she will be heading to Florence to
study for three months later this year.
Students from Duncan of Jordanstone School of Fine Art graduate at 10.00am on Thursday 1 July.
Colin Campbell QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and Larry Rolland outgoing chair of University of
Dundee's University Court and the only Scot to have been President of both the Royal Incorporation of
Architects in Scotland and the Royal Institute of British Architects will receive honorary degrees at
tomorrow's ceremony.
Both, Andrew Marr, BBC’s accomplished political editor and Jane Tomlinson who has raised £451,000 for
charities after being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2000 will receive their honorary degrees on
Friday 2 July.
To arrange interviews with honorary graduates please call the Press Office on 01382 344768
By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk | 
