Here is the second instalment of our artist profiles project, with interview by Caitlin Mitchell!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Catriona Laird, I’m 24 and I’m from Newport just across the water – I’ve lived there my entire life.
What made you want to become an artist?
I’ve always wanted to be an artist since I was little, but then I actually failed art in secondary school. I had a teacher dragging me round the school, interrogating me about picking a new life choice since it was “a bit late for that” in regards to my artistic dreams. So I turned to science because it was the only other thing I was actually good at. I studied forensic science at Abertay for 2 years but didn’t stop drawing in my notes. It was my grandad who then gave me art lessons, and so I went to the Gardyne campus at Dundee College to create an art portfolio which got me into Duncan of Jordanstone, and now here I am.
Do you have a preferred style of art?
I do a lot of digital stuff – I kind of like blending both traditional and digital art. But since teachers never taught me any digital art I basically taught myself how to do it, so I mainly stick with that since I managed by myself.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I play a lot of piano – I try and find theme songs for games and cartoons and try to learn them, because they’re so easily accessible and I also watch so many cartoons myself! I play for me rather than anyone else so it’s nice to just sit and learn something. I also play a lot of games – probably too many games.
What is your favourite comic of all time?
At the minute I’m really enjoying Saga – I recently started collecting it. Otherwise I have a lot of favourite Mangas, which is what I liked drawing myself. I’ll always have a soft spot for Cardcaptor Sakura.
What is the best thing about working in DCCS?
Having your own space away from home where you can just completely focus on doing the work without the distractions – also being around like minded people. I’ve only just started here but its nice to have this kind of base as it’s sometimes hard to find information, but here you’re in a space just focused on comics which is great if you want any information or advice.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the minute I’m working on some picture books to help my mum’s charity – she helps a school in Uganda called Uphill Primary School. They’re needing books at the moment on very specific topics; I’m doing one on a girl who has to walk all these miles to get to school and her experience of being there, also on things like the importance of glasses and getting your eyes tested – things that they don’t know about.
How can we follow you on social media?
Twitter – @tsundernova
Instagram – @tsundernova
Dundee Comics Creative Space 