Scenic Art

Scenic Art

Info School Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Course Production Arts and Design Specialism Scenic Art Duration 3 Years Location Wallace Studios Students and Graduates 2027 Anna Lennon, Aine Hunter 2026 Kate Rafferty, Matt Whittle, Eve Carey, Tiffany Campbell 2025 Holly Aitchison, Eilidh Hammond, Rebecca Gage, Tricia Brown 2024 Alastair Murray, Edgar (Ned) Mundy, Charlie Brooksbank, Jacob Martin 2023 Hope Drummond, Emma Palmer, Ruth Murdoch, Genny Metcalfe

Overview

PAD students working on She Loves Me cloth 2024

A scenic artist is responsible for creating the painted elements of stage sets (such as operas, ballets, plays, musical theatre, etc.), film sets, and themed environments, transforming a space into visually compelling, immersive backdrops. Their tasks include painting backdrops, walls, and other set pieces, often using techniques to simulate textures like brick, wood, or stone, and sometimes creating special effects such as aging surfaces, adding depth, or making objects look like different materials. Scenic artists collaborate closely with scenic designers, production managers, and directors to ensure their work aligns with the overall visual vision of the production. In addition to painting, they may also be involved in sculpting, mold-making, and prop-making to craft three-dimensional elements like faux rocks, statues, or other objects. They also maintain the sets throughout the production, repairing any damage that occurs during rehearsals or performances. Working with a variety of materials—such as latex, foam, plaster, and fabrics—and tools like brushes, sponges, and airbrushes, scenic artists must have a deep understanding of different techniques and materials.

Wallace Studios

The paint shop at the Wallace Studios (located at 210 Garscube Rd. Glasgow G4 9RR) is a large purpose built painting studio which has a static paint frame [12m x 8m drop], accessed by a state-of-the-art fully automated bridge. This is used for painting backdrops and gauzes. Additionally, there is 12 x 7m of uninterrupted floor space, with a head height of 5.5m.

It is used for painting all of the sets and backdrops for the Conservatoire’s many in-house productions including Drama, Musicals and Operas. It is also utilised extensively in the training of all Scenic Art /Production Arts students in drawing, painting, texturing, faux finishing and all other aspects of both traditional and contemporary scenic art techniques.

Two industrial sinks, with sump, allow for the safe use and cleaning of equipment when using water-based paints. Spray painting is facilitated by a silent compressor.

Day to Day

On most days that you are in the scenic department, you will be working on production work under the third year head scenic artist.

Management Process

Production Process at RCS.

Projects

There are a number of projects that the students may work on when they are not on production work.

• Distemper Project
• Gauze Project
• Moon Project
• UV Project

Distemper Project Gauze Project

Moon Project UV Project

Production Technology & Management Anna Athanasiadi Lewis Brown Chloe Chancheong Gábor Csiszér Viola Fowler Ewan Fraser Maddy Frost Reegan Graham Fraser Mackie Rhia Mitsuhashi Lauren Murison Thomas O'Hear Aisha Oyedepo Anne Peart Pippa Reilly Caitlin Riddell Scotty Tom Sedgwick Leo Wittwer

Production Art & Design Petra Crace Sam Mackie Ryan Nachtrab Alexandra Ringvall Patraig Gallagher Isaac Nicol-Smith Rowan Noonan Ganley Louisa Park Alexander Baird Kirsty McMillan Hannah Pickering Simon Raes Genny Metcalfe Ruth Murdoch Emma Palmer Isadora Gough Alicia Karnert Margaux Lemaire d'Autréaux Sophie Sholl

Production Technology & Management Anna Athanasiadi Lewis Brown Chloe Chancheong Gábor Csiszér Viola Fowler Ewan Fraser Maddy Frost Reegan Graham Fraser Mackie Rhia Mitsuhashi Lauren Murison Thomas O'Hear Aisha Oyedepo Anne Peart Pippa Reilly Caitlin Riddell Scotty Tom Sedgwick Leo Wittwer

Production Art & Design Petra Crace Sam Mackie Ryan Nachtrab Alexandra Ringvall Patraig Gallagher Isaac Nicol-Smith Rowan Noonan Ganley Louisa Park Alexander Baird Kirsty McMillan Hannah Pickering Simon Raes Genny Metcalfe Ruth Murdoch Emma Palmer Isadora Gough Alicia Karnert Margaux Lemaire d'Autréaux Sophie Sholl Past Productions Academic Year Shows Student Leads School/Location Notes 2025 - 11 TBD TBD TBD 2024/2025 TBD Eilidh Hammond Acting, Chandler Theatre Spring Awakening 2025 Rebecca Gage Musical Theatre, New Athenaeum The Magic Flute 2025 Holly Aitchison Opera, New Athenaeum She Loves Me Tricia Brown Musical Theatre, New Athenaeum 2023/2025 Sweet Charity Alastair Murray Musical Theatre, New Athenaeum Ballet Showcase 2024 H.Aitchison; T.Brown; R.Gage; E.Hammond Earthquakes In London 2024 Ned Mundy Acting, Chandler Theatre Health and Safety The following are links to useful health and safety information COSHH Scenic Art RA & SSOW Scenic Art Resources for Scenic Artists: A-Z Anamorphic Art Architectural Watercolours Art History "Behind the Scenics" - videos Bricks Carving Cloths Colour Theory and Paint Mixing Cheat Sheets Chinoiserie Crackle Glazing Curtains ( Tabs) Digitally Printed Backdrops Drawing Education Faux Finishers Film Crew Positions Explained Fire Screens Foliage Freelancing Frosted Glass Effect Geometry Ghost Signs Gilding Glitter (Eco Friendly) Guild of Scenic Artists Historic Cloths Historic Reference Library ICE Effect Instructional Videos - Hanging a Cloth, Making a Pounce, Gridding Up Lettering Lighting Lino Cutting Marble Matte Painting MDF - sealing Mural Joe Museums and Galleries Ornamentation Panoromas Painting tricks Paints and Materials Pastiche (Homage) / Parody Pattern Perspective Photography for Portfolios Photoshop Tutorials Portrait Painting Posters Pouncing Professional Scenic Artists Printing Large Scale RCS Scenic Art Handbook RCS Scenic Art Production Handbook Reference Books Royal Shakespeare Company Scale, Ratio and Gridding Up Scenic Art Film Techniques Scenic Tools Scenic Artwork from RCS Productions / Personal projects FaceBook Page Scenic Resources: Links Scenic Textures ...more coming Scottish Opera Shadows Skys Social Media Accounts Worth Following Spray Guns Stencils Stretching a Canvas Top 10 Skills Scenic Artist - Skills and Qualities Tax Translucent Backdrops Trompe L'Oeil UV Paint Videos Virtual Tour of RCS Wallpaper Watercolour Painting Woodgraining