Rebecca Lambert

What are the main concerns of your practice?

My practise has evolved around my love for sport and how we express ourselves through physical activity, but also how it can be creative. As a society we are relying less and less on our bodies and more on technology and screens to provide us with entertainment. Alongside this, the fact that over the last year my health has declined and having a genetic mixed connective tissue disorder means that not only my joints and skin are affected, but now also my internal organs. How the deterioration of my body has impacted my relationship with sport has become a strong focus in my work.

 

 

What are your influences?

I would say firstly my rowing squad; their dedication to training during the time I spent racing with them but also their support as I went from being a strong athlete, to a waif-like fragile figure. It is the determination to not give up and the emotional investment needed to pursue such an intense sport that really connects me and ultimately my practise to it. My faith also highly influences everything I do, especially having been through a lot of uncertainty and trials healthwise, I am so inspired by God’s will and the places He takes me but mainly the people He puts around me in the situations I find myself in.

In terms of artists I think that sport photographers such as James Cannon, that have the ability to capture athletes in the moment, focusing on their expressions and stance, consequently creating pictures that tell a thousand stories.

What is the first thing you do in your process?

I find that a bit of spontaneity always gets me started and often this takes the form of painting or sculpting, although often the results of which end up having nothing to do with my final piece. I then follow this with lots of research and brainstorming of ideas. Generally I come to my most successful ideas in the randomest of places, normally at 3am in the morning, or on my walks to uni or long journeys.

 

What do you enjoy most about the studio?

I really like having a space to come back to, knowing that I can create whatever I want and not having to worry about whether it’s too big or messy. I also love the community, that we are all on completely different creative journeys and yet sharing the same space. It’s also really nice seeing other people’s work develop over time and well as our own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How has your work changed over the course of the degree?

When I came to uni most of my A level work was painting based, slowly but surely I moved on from this and started to play around with hanging pieces and prints. I think I naturally gravitate towards making something look visually attractive than conceptually profound, but this is something I have

worked hard to balance. However, this year in particular I’ve started working with film and photography, which is something that I’ll definitely continue with, no matter what path my career takes.

 

What are your plans after graduation?

Well, next year I’ll be staying in Leeds and doing an outreach internship for my church, where I’ll be working on various projects serving the community whilst developing various pastoral and administrative skills. After this, only Jesus knows, but I’m thinking of perhaps venturing into the world of Law.. but we’ll just see.