30 June 2006

Major scholarship success for Dundee artist

Scottish artist Simon Reekie, an acclaimed graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College in Dundee who became well known for his striking 3-D pictures of his family, has won thousands of pounds worth of scholarships to continue studies at the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Simon, who is from Dundee, won a Fulbright Scholarship in 2005 to study on the Master of Fine Art programme at Chicago. He has now been successful in attracting funding to pursue the second year of the course.

"I have been absolutely thrilled by the support I have received in continuing my studies in Chicago," said Simon. "It can be really tough to get funding as competition for scholarships is really intense, but it is extremely encouraging for me to get this support."

Simon has been awarded St Andrew’s Society of Washington DC’s James and Mary Dawson Scholarship, the Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation grant, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago International Scholarship, and grants from the Scottish International Education Trust and the City of Dundee Educational Trust

Simon became well known for the spectacular painting of his father, complete with a 3D nose, which he donated to the City of Dundee and now hangs in the city's McManus Galleries.

He has since made a new series of paintings, again with his parents as subjects.

For media enquiries contact:

Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk