British Airways is looking for British talent

For me, Rome is unique because the art, history and buildings are inseparable from one another; the public spaces and their sculptures being so much a part of ordinary, everyday life.
I would spend a fortnight in Rome. My initial aim: to make over forty drawings and watercolour sculptures, exploring Iconic buildings and Roman landmarks.
Investigating the history, meaning and myth behind them but also their function and relevance in contemporary Roman life would help me to combine architecture and iconography in unusual, subversive, even politically loaded or iconoclastic ways in a painting of 'Iconic Rome' which I could work on back in my studio in Gloucestershire. This would take four months.
Paintings I've made of London, Venice and Edinburgh are viewable on www.laurieplant.com.
From the painting of Rome, I would also develop a canvas sculpture, to twist and distort the perspectives of the City. Moreover, I would then use my art work to inform the teaching and educational work, extending the legacy of my experiences in Rome to benefit others, not just through exhibitions but in workshops, talks, classes, demonstrations and tuition, in both mainstream and special needs work with adults, teenagers and children.
Having taught on many educational projects such as 'Fresh Air', The Quenington Sculpture Show, working for three weeks with children and teenagers who have special needs, disabilites and learning difficulties and enabling them to develop their creative responses to art work, I know I would enjoy being able to share my experiences of working in Rome through such teaching events, residencies and workshops.

Laurie Plant gained a First Class Hons in Visual Arts from Lancaster University and completed an MA in Art and Art History at University of Wales in 2000.
Over the last ten years he has continued developing his practice and taught art in a wide range of institutions to all age-groups (from four to eighty-four year olds) and all aptitudes, including those with disabilities and special needs groups.

Plant has lectured for the Universities of Bath and Wales, taught in Cirencester College, run courses for Swindon Arts Centre and New Brewery Arts, Glos. and completed residencies and workshops in countless schools, nuseries, art centres and galleries.

Having recently won a competition with a painting of Swindon which was acquired by The New Swindon Company for their boardroom in 2008, Plant then completed a private commission to paint a picture of Cirencester and it's Parish Church. It has been reproduced onto hoardings, on display in the Town Centre over the last year during a major restoration project on the Church.
A replica of the painting has been on display in the Corinium Museum, Cirencester and the artist was invited for a solo exhibition of recent paintings and sculpture with the Museum during October 2009.
Laurie is passionate about Italy and has been learning Italian over the last six years.

The artist would strongly recommend looking at the painting of "Iconic London" on:

www.laurieplant.com or www.iconic-london.com

However "Iconic London" is already being published subject to copyright agreement and therefore problematic to submit.