Two Ayrshire artists are inviting members of the public to visit the UWS Ayr campus to explore exhibitions inspired by music, popular culture and the overlooked stories of local working women.

The free exhibitions feature work by Coylton-based artist Stefano Facchini and Troon-based artist Emma Wesencraft, with paintings, digital art and an immersive installation on display.

UWS master’s student, Stefano’s exhibition, Album Artworks and Pop Portraits, can be found in the main reception area of the campus. It brings together acrylic paintings, digital illustrations and animated album artwork created for music-streaming platforms.

Inspired partly by the surreal album covers produced by the celebrated British design group Hipgnosis, Stefano’s work explores how traditional and digital materials can be combined to tell stories through music and art.

The exhibition also includes his Pop Portraits series, for which Stefano challenged himself to move beyond his graphic design background and create painted portraits of famous musicians.

 

Stefano Facchini said: “Music has always been a big influence on my work, and studying the MA programme at UWS has allowed me to explore that connection while developing my skills in painting, photography, collage and digital illustration.

I’m particularly pleased with the album artwork created in collaboration with clients, as it’s given me the confidence to pursue this kind of work after university. I hope visitors enjoy seeing how different materials have been brought together to create both static and animated artwork, and that the portraits spark a sense of nostalgia among fellow music fans.

 

Elsewhere on campus, Emma Wesencraft’s Masters installation, Women Behind the Scenes: Ayrshire’s Hidden Labour, shines a light on the often-overlooked contribution made by local working women during the early 20th century.

Emma, a Creative Media Practice masters student and a graduate of UWS’s BA (Hons) Graphic Art and Moving Image programme, uses archival research, handmade sculpture, found objects, sound, light and scent to create aninteractive environment inspired by Ayr’s past.

Created using recycled materials, the installation explores the lives of women who worked in local industries including tailoring and dressmaking, carpet manufacturing and clerical work. It encourages visitors to consider the hidden stories that have helped shape the town and wider Ayrshire area.

Emma Wesencraft said: “My research made me realise just how often women’s contributions have been overlooked or left out of the history we know. I wanted to celebrate the working women who played an important role in Ayr’s carpet manufacturing, dressmaking and clerical industries, despite receiving little recognition.

I hope the installation gives local people a sense of nostalgia and connection, encouraging them to reflect on their own family histories, share memories and celebrate the women who helped shape the community.

Elizabeth McLaughlin, Media Lead and Senior Lecturer at UWS, said: “These exhibitions showcase the creativity and ambition of our students while exploring subjects with strong links to Ayrshire and its communities. We hope members of the public will take the opportunity to visit the campus, experience the work for themselves and support two talented local artists.”

 

Both exhibitions are free to visit and will be on display until Friday 7 August.