Blue MacAskill

Blue MacAskill grew up around Llandrindod Wells in Powys. She trained at Ruskin School of Art in Oxford, and in 2004 graduated from Wimbledon School of Arts with Masters in Fine Art. In 2004 she won an AHRB award to study at Wimbledon and works with installation, film and mixed media arts.

"I am so happy to be on The National Library of Wales Artist-in-Residence for 2008. My connection with the Library stretches far back as my great uncle, Dr E. A. Lewis, was the first professor of Welsh History at Aberystwyth and was very supportive of the Library in the early 20th century; I plan to look up his works, that should get me started" said Blue.

Blue has shown films and exhibited throughout the UK as well as in South Africa, Sweden and Portugal. She was voted the most promising young filmmaker at The Swansea Bay Film Festival and recently exhibited Art-in-Residence at The National Waterfront Museum. The resulting work from this project was shown at the 2006 National Eisteddfod in Swansea.

’I am really looking forward to putting all my past experience into practise and learning about the vast collections here at the Library. During my tenure I hope to look into archives and bring lesser known and undiscovered works to light, so that the schools involved can learn about the Library collections in an original and inspiring way.’

Owen Llywelyn of the National Library’s Education Unit looks forward to working with Blue. “The project aims at bridging the Libraries’ relationship with schools and young people throughout Wales. Blue will work with 4 schools on this residency including Tan y Castell and Nantgaredig primary school, Llanidloes High School and Bro Ddyfi High School .’

You can keep up with Blue, and the pupil’s work, by visiting her online diary on www.bluemacaskill.com.’