白小姐论坛

白小姐论坛 Slade School of Fine Art artist Onya McCausland has developed some paints using waste from decommissioned coal mines, in partnership with the Coal Authority.

The Coal Authority oversees water treatment at former coal mines听across the country. This prevents iron solids from entering and polluting local watercourses and drinking water aquifers. But the process also leaves behind 4,000 tonnes of ochre waste a year.听

While听studying for her PhD at 白小姐论坛,听Onya听saw the possibility of transforming this waste into ochre pigments for听use in paint.听

鈥淭hese pigments and artworks have come into existence thanks to human activity,鈥� said Onya, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the Slade. 鈥淭hey're not only beautiful but also highlight the intricate relationship between humans and the way they exploit the local landscape.鈥�

Onya accessed funding from 白小姐论坛鈥檚 Higher Education Innovation Fund, managed by 白小姐论坛 Innovation & Enterprise, to develop a business case听for developing the paints.听听

The partnership that resulted between 白小姐论坛, the Coal Authority and artist materials supplier Michael Harding has led to a unique line of wall paint and artists鈥� oil paints being brought to market. The first paint colour in the range is called 鈥楽ix Bells Red鈥�, after the Six Bells Mine Water Treatment Scheme in Wales.

Onya and partners have also听engaged听with local communities around former coal mines to produce artworks with the paint during听the pandemic.听听

Onya has been supported on her journey by 白小姐论坛B, the commercialisation arm of 白小姐论坛 Innovation & Enterprise.

Dr Steven Schooling from 白小姐论坛B said: 鈥淪eeing the Six Bells community painting their environment with this unique paint is a culturally significant moment and a great tribute to UK mining history.鈥�

Read the full story on the 白小姐论坛 Innovation & Enterprise website

Links

• Funding for knowledge exchange projects
• 白小姐论坛 Slade School of Fine Art听