Ellice Thatcher

Ellice is an art direction student and fine art enthusiast, her final major project focuses on collaboration and the celebration of poetry as an expression during the time of lockdown. Many turned to words as a form of expression and familiarity during this time whether it be books or poems and Ellice wanted to encapsulate that. Working with 8 poets she has created a virtual exhibition using multiple creative media platforms to express each poem visually and curated an online visual space (Thisistemporary.co.uk). The aim of the exhibition is to look back at this particularly challenging time and work with real people to celebrate the creative positive outcomes of this time. The utilization of 3D, 2D, and VR outcomes was particularly an aspect that Ellice pushed herself within her final year adding a sense of playfulness to the project and final responses.

During her time at University Ellice has particularly been passionate about using her skills to highlight or bring attention to inequality or social issues. An example of this is The Giving Bear (below), through a competitive pitch ellice was given the opportunity to lead and be the designer for a Light installation in collaboration with Veolia, Westminster City Council, and the New West End Company to raise awareness of the growing issue of homelessness and living more sustainably this Christmas. The Giving Bear brought Christmas light to Mayfair’s Mount Street Gardens. The life-size sculpture was created using over 3,000 reused plastic milk bottles, serving as a reminder of climate change and waste consumption over the holidays.  Beside the installation is a tap donation point, where you can use the fixed £3 tap to give a gift to the Hidden Network – a group of charities who work with Westminster City Council to end rough sleeping in London.