Anna Shirron BA MFA

Visual Artist, b. Aberdeen, Scotland, 1985

Anna Shirron studied Painting as an undergraduate at Gray’s School of Art, graduating in 2007. During her time spent there, she was awarded both the Carnegie Travelling Scholarship and David Gordon Memorial Trust Award by the Royal Scottish Academy. Upon leaving the University, she was the winner of the BP Fine Art award which she used to fund her practice for a year, before exhibiting both nationally and internationally.

In 2009, Anna returned to Gray’s to complete a Master of Fine Art which enabled her to explore how her research interests feed into areas out-with Fine Art. This allowed her to create a practice where her Research, Writing and Output all equally inform each other.

‘The basis of my research has been around the idea of Beauty vs. Ugly - questioning our pre-conceived ideas in art and society. Specifically whether our opinions or perceptions of something that would be classed by many as 'ugly', can be changed by the use of decoration or pattern, which many people consider to be 'beautiful'. Also raising the question - if our opinions can be changed by something as straightforward at this, then what does that say about our society?’’