Winning the Freelands Foundation Prize marks an exciting milestone in Danni's journey, as her painting Do It For The Plot gains national recognition. Now beginning her masters at BCU, Danni continues to develop a practice driven by accessibility, community, and bold creative risk.
Can you tell us about the work that earned you the award and what inspired it?
Do It For The Plot is a painting about accidents and growth. I painted it in disconnected sections, deliberately covering completed areas as I worked, allowing growth, interruption, and surprise to shape it. It has already had an unusual life. At one point, I even wore it as a scarf to an arts event, so seeing it formally recognised by the Freelands Foundation feels both surreal and exciting.
How did your time on the BA (Hons) Fine Art course at BCU shape your approach to painting and prepare you for this achievement?
The BA (Hons) Fine Art course completely shifted my perspective on what painting could be. I had previously studied design, so I’ve always been around visual work, but BCU encouraged me to move beyond traditional structures and embrace independence, experimentation and curiosity within my practice.
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What does winning this prize mean to you personally and professionally?
Being selected for this award feels like a validation of both my process and my willingness to take risks. Personally, it’s a huge moment of confidence. Professionally, it opens doors to new networks, exhibition opportunities, and conversations that will help shape the next stage of my career.
You’ve now started the MA Fine Art – what motivated you to continue your studies at BCU?
Choosing to continue at BCU felt natural. The staff at the School of Arts have been hugely supportive, the facilities are extensive, and there is a real culture of independence that allows ideas to grow in unexpected directions.
How has your artistic practice evolved since transitioning from undergraduate to postgraduate study?
Moving into postgraduate study has given me more space to deepen my research and to trust in longer, slower processes. I’m now more comfortable letting a painting unfold over time without needing to resolve everything too quickly.
Are there particular themes or techniques you're exploring more deeply in the MA that were sparked during your BA?
The theme of accessibility, both in art spaces and artistic process has become more central. The BA sparked this interest, and now in my MA Fine Art course, I’m pushing further into how art can be experienced, accessed and produced differently.
Who or what are your biggest influences in your painting practice?
My influences come from both within and outside fine art, from design principles I studied earlier, to everyday acts of improvisation and adaptation. I’m inspired by processes that involve layering, erasing and rebuilding.
Can you describe your creative process – from concept to completion?
I tend to begin without a fixed plan, working in sections and often obscuring what I’ve already made. This allows accident and intention to coexist, guiding the work to evolve rather than be executed.
How do you balance experimentation with refinement in your work?
Refinement comes later in my process. I start by embracing chaos and disruption, then gradually respond to what the painting becomes, shaping it without erasing the history of how it formed.
How has being part of the BCU Fine Art community supported your growth as an artist?
The community at BCU has been instrumental in my development. The encouragement from staff and peers, along with access to diverse facilities, created an environment where I could take risks and grow both technically and conceptually.
What are your hopes for the next stage of your career – are there exhibitions, residencies, or collaborations you're aiming for?
Long-term, I hope to establish a fully accessible, disability-friendly artist-owned studio space in Birmingham. I also see the MA as a stepping stone toward collaborations and potentially pursuing a PhD in the future.
What advice would you give to current undergraduate Fine Art students who aspire to follow a similar path?
Trust your process, even when it feels unconventional. Make the most of the community and facilities around you, and don’t be afraid to let your work take unexpected directions, that’s often where the breakthroughs happen.