Royal Academy appoints first Epson Digital Print Media Tutors

23rd October, 2012: The Royal Academy Schools, the only independent three year postgraduate art school in the world, has appointed Guler Ates and Barton Hargreaves as its first Epson Digital Print Media Tutors.

The Royal Academy Schools has had a long and fruitful collaborative relationship with Epson including sponsorship of digital media with the RA Schools, and for the last 12 years, the unique luxury of its own purpose-built Epson Digital Media Suite.

The Epson Digital Media Suite is equipped with Epson’s full range of Stylus Pro large format inkjet printers, Epson inks and media and is used by students to produce high-end and experimental artworks using digital technologies, often in an unexpected or alternative ways. As Epson Digital Print Media Tutors, Guler and Barton supervise all the work in this area, guiding students through the possibilities of a project, instructing on related software, facilitating projects and teaching how to use the equipment. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for the creation of their own digital prints, banners, photos and light box imagery as well as supplying post-production film positives, which supports the other traditional printmaking mediums such as etching and screen printing.

Before becoming Epson Tutors, Guler and Barton both worked as Digital Fellows within the Academy, gaining valuable experience in advanced digital technologies and researching the potential of the Epson printers. Prior to this they both graduated from the Royal College of Art’s specialist MA Fine Art printmaking department and have since developed respected reputations as young professional artists.

They have both had important solo exhibitions: Guler has exhibited at Art First Gallery, London, Marian Cramer Projects in Amsterdam, Fusion at Gallery Point-1 in Japan and in her native Istanbul. She was also artist in residence at Leighton House Museum, London in 2010. Barton has had solo shows at Playground Space, London and The Brook Gallery. He was included in the Northern Print Biennale and Originals at the Mall Gallery, and was commissioned by the Jerwood Foundation for which he produced ‘In Situ’, a massive site responsive digital print for the exterior of their London Gallery Space.

“Guler and Barton create artworks made within the Epson Suite and their shared knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for the use of digital technologies within fine art practice plays an essential role in the delivery of the school’s contemporary art programme. Since their appointments the number of students working in this area and the range of applications and experimentation has increased dramatically. This has all been made possible by the on-going support of Epson,” says Mark Hampson, Head of Material Processes, Royal Academy Schools.

“The close collaboration between the Royal Academy Schools and Epson has benefited us both on many levels,” says Nick White, Business Manager, Professional Graphics, Epson UK. “The experience of working closely with artists who continually explore new horizons using digital print technologies is valuable. They learn from us and we learn from them.”