Inverness art lecturer’s works are royal success
AN Inverness-based art lecturer is the first Scottish artist to be accepted in all Royal Art Academies in one year.
Rising star Frank To has just been selected for the Royal Cambrian Academy annual exhibition, making him the only Scottish artist to be selected for exhibitions at the Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Ulster Academy, Royal West of England Academy and Royal Scottish Academy in a 12-month period.
Mr To said: “I actually never intended to go for all these royal institutions’ exhibitions. After showing in London this August, I became quite ill which incapacitated me both mentally and physically.
“The only thing that really got me focused was this idea of achieving the impossible, which was to get into all the royal art academies this year.
“The odds were seriously against me, however, that ambition became a reality.”
A resident art lecturer at Inverness College UHI, Mr To was born in Falkirk and raised in Glasgow, and his innovative work with ignited gunpowder has brought him international recognition.