An Interview with Bea Last: Sculptural Drawing Artist & Overall Winner of the VAA’S 2024 Artist of the Year Awards
Bea Last – Artist Feature – VAA Member of the Month January 2025
Scotland based artist, Bea Last, discusses success in 2024, personal perspective, and drawing on experience to inform and inspire art.
Bea is exploring drawing in its broadest sense, creating sculptural drawings, using salvaged, recycled and found materials.
Sculptural drawing Installations depend on location, space and environment and are created or re-invented according to that space. They are created to be recycled and reimagined. Both a response to current global issues and to personal trauma, they act as witness to and an acknowledgement of the human condition, reflecting on relationship, belonging, community, placement and connection.
Currently based in Scotland, Bea is not Scottish by birth. Her perceptions and relationship to both inner and outer landscapes she believe[s], are attributed to this sense of not belonging to – and yet a belonging everywhere. It contributes to an outward looking and broader approach to our global community and so to inspiration and connection.
Initially a painter, the creative process has led [her] to where [she is] presently merging drawing and painting into sculptural forms, and [she] remain[s] open to where this process may lead [her].
‘ Questions came to mind of what would you grab if fleeing your home in an emergency, a crisis, conflict, natural disaster, a bag with few belongings in it? You can see how the image of a plastic bag, caught in the branch of a tree, wafting in the air could summon so many different questions and inspiration. ‘
Fresh coffee, newspaper and emails followed by a walk with our black lab, Lokie.
Studio time into the early evening, supper, bath, music…. at any given time this will be dispersed with either meetings, mentoring, preparation for a workshop, selection panels and creative events and networking and not forgetting gathering with friends.
I tend to have an open mind, aware that nothing stays the same, we are always evolving, for good or bad, always changing. That nothing is permanent and as you move through life the horizon line, your perspective, will change. Looking at the bigger picture from all sides can help forge a greater understanding of life, what it is to be human and to try to take the positives from life experiences in order to move forward. I guess I would refer to my outlook as philosophical and that I am a glass half full person as opposed to half empty!
My current creative practice aims to respond to many global issues whilst still retaining the aesthetics striven for in creating art. Using Recycled, Repurposed, Biodegradable and Found materials to create what I refer to as Sculptural Drawing. The work I create is my own personal response and experience, therefore working with more abstract forms, leaves interpretation open to the viewer. My choice of materials reflect the strengths and fragility, vulnerability and endurance that is all part of humanity.
It is important to me to keep considering the aesthetics of my work true. The forms, textures, colour, light and craft, the skill involved in making. I originally come from a painters background, so creating these sculptural installations feels like drawing three dimensionally within a given space or environment.
What does a day in your life look like? Do you have a particular outlook that guides you? What does your work aim to say?
Describe your creative process, from the first spark of inspiration to the finished product?
The creative process is vital to my practice. It is what drives my work forward helping me to explore new, experimental ideas. The first spark of inspiration can come from something quite random that has been heard or seen or a direct response to something I feel strongly about and have a personal connection to. Also, Current global issues that affect humanity as a whole .
An example of the random. Inspiration can come out of nowhere whilst walking our dog or driving, A piece of rusty machinery, a discarded piece of tarpauline, frozen into a sculptural form. A stray plastic bag caught up high in a tree, wafting in the breeze. That particular one, the plastic bag, was something I drove past for two years whilst wondering which would come first, Council land management or decomposure. This led to thoughts on the environment, plastics and recycling but also the nature of bags…what are they for, symbolic of, usage. I have seen the loan homeless man that carried his entire life in a black bin bag, I have pondered the lifespan of a human beginning from the embryonic sac to body bag and considered the term Emotional Baggage. Questions came to mind of what would you grab if fleeing your home in an emergency, a crisis, conflict, natural disaster, a bag with few belongings in it? You can see how the image of a plastic bag, caught in the branch of a tree, wafting in the air could summon so many different questions and inspiration.
‘Its not been easy but here I am, still driving my creative practice forward, experimenting and exploring new ideas.’
The idea of what success is, will vary person to person, socially, culturally, historically etc. For myself the fact that I have spent a lifetime pursuing my place in the world of art, and am creating, facilitating and mentoring and supporting myself since leaving art school many years ago. Its not been easy but here I am, still driving my creative practice forward, experimenting and exploring new ideas.
The VAA is an invaluable source of information and support. From creative opportunities to online workshops and mentoring there is so much to tap into should you need to. Mainly, I have felt very supported this past year.
What is your definition of artistic success? How has the VAA helped you so far?
What have you accomplished over the past year? What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
2024 was full of exhibition opportunities, publications and awards. An amazing year. From exhibiting in Belgium with 10dence gallery, Netherlands, of which I am an affiliated artist, to being a selected finalist for the LAGUNA ARTE PRIZE-VENICE 2024.Work has travelled to both Berlin and Barcelona and will be heading to Madrid in the very near future.
Publications with artist interviews and or reviews included ‘Unlocking Womens Art’ – P.L.Henderson, available on Amazon along with ‘The Creative Process Book- Womens Edition ‘ISBN 978-819722694-6 also available from Amazon, not to mention being listed as one of 55 artists to watch in 2024 by the Florence Contemporary Art Gallery – Amazon.
A part of my creative practice is also given to mentoring, facilitating a 10 week portfolio preparation course for young adults considering application to art school once a year and supporting young adults on the Autism disorder spectrum through creativity. I am delighted that the portfolio course has been a success and has secured funding for 2025. I also received the DGLife Award 2024, given to individuals considered to have contributed to our local community in positive and inspiring ways. DGLIFE is formed under the umbrella of DGUnlimited arts cic.
And of course, let’s not forget, I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded the VAA ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024!
There have been key points in my career that I am proud of , some more pivotal than others. Attending Art School, age 16 for five years, just off the back of my portfolio or receiving a visual arts development residency at Cove Park, Argyle and Bute. Invited by Glasgow School of Art to facilitate their Widening Participation Portfolio Preparation course here in Dumfries. Reaching the finals of the Aesthetica Art Prize 2023 was a significant endorsement along with the Laguna Arte Prize Finalist exhibition in Venice. All have felt like a confirmation of some sort. Recognition perhaps.
Is there anything you’d like to say to the artist you were a year ago?
Its been quite an extraordinary 18 months for me actually with the installation The Red Bags, taking me on an amazing journey, one installation after the other leading me to where I am, with hardly time to stop and process. With this in mind I’d say to myself of 18months ago it’s ok, just keep doing what you are doing. Not so much a young emerging artist , considering my entire life as an artist, It has been reassuring to feel that there is so much more to come while my thoughts scream, I have so much more I want to do.
TAKE A LOOK AT BEA’S ONLINE SOLO EXHIBITION HERE
(If link in text does not work, visit here: https://www.artsteps.com/view/6763f156833212163a8b9205)
