Next Big Thing
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Bath Spa Fine Art alum could be the ‘Next Big Thing’
Monday, 15 March, 2021Bath Spa Fine Art graduate Kieran Luke Naish can tick ‘appear on TV’ off his bucket list, as he has been chosen as one of 11 finalists selected to appear on new art competition show, Next Big Thing.
Kieran, a landscape oil painter, was selected from more than 300 entries, and will be tasked with creating an original piece of work which captures the “spirit of London”. He and fellow contestants will also receive mentoring from established professional artists, providing further advice and guidance to help them along the way.
Kieran saw an advert for the show on Instagram, and thought it would be a great opportunity to get his work in front of industry experts. He said: “My dream is to pursue a career in art. After graduating in 2016, I moved to London in order to find opportunities like this, so I couldn’t let it pass.”
Keiran said the prospect of getting in front of the camera - and letting a film crew into his room at home, where he works - was daunting at first, but it did not take long for him to get used to it. In fact, he says it has been a real boost for him and his art.
“The experience has helped me improve my confidence and ability to speak about my work,” he explained. “Being on TV has also given my work great exposure, it has helped me grow my following on social media and I have gained valuable contacts throughout the process.”
The six-episode series will culminate in a showcase of the final works in a prestigious central London exhibition, and revealed to a global audience in an online auction. Whatever the final outcome may be, the experience has made Kieran even more determined to follow his dream.
Kieran added: “Knowing that the judges unanimously chose me as one of the 11 finalists on the show has given me the drive to carry on doing what I’m doing and has helped me get one step closer to my dream of making a living from my artwork.”