Photography students, Brittany Doyle and Kelsey McClure are delighted that their work has been chosen to be displayed at The Swan in Farnborough, which has been newly refurbished and is managed by Aviator – a hotel by TAG, also located on Farnborough Road.

Aviator invited students to create artwork, in line with their brief, focusing on the historical landmarks in Farnborough.

The selection of photography by student artists is a reflection of the evocative and imaginative work, which has led our Art Department to build a reputation for excellence, both locally and nationally.  Student art work has also been commissioned by Fujitsu and exhibited in their London Headquarters and The Village Urban Resort recently hosted an Art Sale, featuring student work.

Mark Ashton, General Manager at Aviator and The Swan, explained why the students’ photographs were selected “Earlier this year, we were approached by the Photography Department who were interested in their students creating artwork for Aviator to use in The Swan, when it reopened. We put together a formal brief, which asked the students to produce a series of compelling photographic pieces to complement the proposed identity for The Swan, with a view to us commissioning a winning piece. We were so impressed with the calibre of entries we received from the talented students, we chose to commission three pieces in total, all of which are displayed in prominent spots around The Swan.”

Michelle Braby, Subject Tutor in Photography said “We are very grateful to TAG for providing our students with this valuable opportunity of professional work experience.  Having their work selected will broaden their future employability.  We are focused on providing our students with the chance to get involved in creating art for display in the local community, as well as entering national competitions.”

Brittany Doyle commented on having her work selected “I aimed to capture the local landmarks of Farnborough in a creative way in my photographs, so that locals can recognise the familiar landmarks and subsequently feel comfortable in the surroundings of The Swan.  I wanted to try and add to the atmosphere, by creating a relaxing mood with black and white photos.  I felt that this would help to reinforce The Swan’s image as an informal community meeting place.”

Kelsey McClure added “In response to the Brief we were given, I decided to take photographs that subtly represented Farnborough’s link with aviation.  I took images in and around the Farnborough Aviation Museum.  My photo shoot included a replica of the plane that Samuel Cody originally flew and a collection of signs that linked with flight.  I found this an interesting and enjoyable brief and learnt more about the area and Samuel Cody.  The peeling and rusting surface of the signs, which I photographed, created an interesting texture.  The black and white image emphasises the contrast between the text and the background.  Each sign possessed a different shade making the monotone quality more effective.”