Posted: Monday 11 May 2009

Keeping Art in the Family at Kilmarnock College

Internationally renowned artist Joe McLaughlin from Kilwinning recently took a step back in time as he visited his old college and gave a master class demonstrating his particular technique of painting to a group of Art and Design students including his 16 year old daughter Kate.

After 22 years working in the printing industry, Joe (49) decided to return to education in 2000 to pursue a career as an artist, and enrolled on the NQ Portfolio Preparation course at Kilmarnock College. Joe successfully completed the course and has now established himself on a national and international platform as well as being a very popular local artist. Joe's daughters 22 year old Marie and 16 year old Kate are also following in their fathers footsteps by training at Kilmarnock College.

Marie, who paints under the name Jett Viverie, completed the NQ Portfolio course at the college in 2004 and her younger sister Kate will complete the same course in June this year. Kate hopes to continue her studies at Kilmarnock College and has applied for the HNC Art and Design course.

Joe said: "I was more than happy to come into the college to discuss my career with the students. I would recommend anyone considering careers in the art industry to attend Kilmarnock College. I am delighted that Marie and Kate have taken the same route to start their careers in art by going to Kilmarnock College."

Joe demonstrated his famous figurative painting technique to paint the image of a boxer and took part in a question and answer session. Amongst almost 30 students eagerly observing Joe was his own daughter, Kate.


Kate said: "Having my Dad in the College to paint was a bit weird at first but I really liked the idea of my Dad being asked to show everyone how he paints. I chose Kilmarnock because my Dad had such a great time there and they offer the best art course. I will be taking up art as a career and hope to go to art school when I get my HNC at Kilmarnock College."

Marketing Co-ordinator Louise Conway said: "It's fabulous to see the impact that the college is having on our students lives and we are particularly honoured to have Joe come into the college and provide such an inspirational master class to our current students. Jett is currently in the process of setting up her own gallery in Glasgow's fashionable Merchant City and I'm sure that she will be a great success in her own right. Success in the art world is hard earned and both Joe and Jett have shown great grit and determination in their achievements to date. The sheer inspiration they have both passed onto our students will, I'm sure, strengthen our students resolve to go out into the world and achieve to their fullest potential."

For further information on Art and Design courses or any other courses available at Kilmarnock College please contact the information team on 0800 389 6817 or visit the courses section of this site.

For further information on artwork from either Joe or Jett please log onto www.jpmclaughlin.co.uk  or www.jettvivere.com  to see excellent examples of their art.

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For more information, contact:
Denise Clark, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) denise@halogencom.com

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