International acclaim for Inverness College University of the Highlands and Islands art student
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AN Inverness College UHI art student has snapped her way to victory in an internationally renowned photographic competition.
HND Contemporary Art Practice student Evija Laivina was one of five student photographers from around the world to be recognised in the Lens Culture Portrait Awards, which celebrate the pinnacle of professional photography.
Ms Laivina, who has studied at the college since 2014, submitted a series of quirky images titled Beauty Warriors, depicting the alternative side of female beauty preparations and treatments as part of her course work.
The young artist experimented with painting, drawing and sculpture before returning to her first love of photography, and likes to blend humour and surrealism to produce witty and thought-provoking photographs.
“To create my portraits, I purchased many bizarre beauty aids from the internet to be used by the models, before preparing different backdrops and setting up a series of studio sessions,” she said.
The portraits were judged by a panel of industry experts including Susan White, photography director for Vanity Fair magazine and Phillip Prodger, head of photography at the National Portrait Gallery.
The college’s Contemporary Art Practice course supports students to explore their ideas through different medium, from sculpture, painting, drawing, photography and digital media.
