Award-winning arts luminary appointed Head of Gray’s School of Art

Professor Paul Harris, a British Academy and Scottish BAFTA award-winning photographer and film-maker, has been appointed as the new Head of Robert Gordon University's Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen.

Professor Harris joins Gray's from the University of Abertay, where he was Creative Director of the Institute of Arts, Media and Computer Games from 2002. During his tenure, he attracted over £9 million in funding to support Scotland's creative industries and also established the National Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education.

Following an illustrious career in television, working for Channel 4, Central Television and the BBC, Paul began teaching media production and was Head of Film and Television at Edinburgh College of Art from 1996 to 2002.

Indeed, Paul's industry background and passion for cultivating the next generation of artists has been recognised with numerous national and international awards as a director, script advisor and executive producer of student work including two Royal Television Society Awards, a Scottish BAFTA for Best New Documentary Talent and a British Academy Award for Best Short Film.

Paul has also served on and chaired a number of panels and boards including BBC Scotland's Music, Arts and Entertainment Independent Review Panel, the Scottish Screen Investment Panel, the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice, Scottish Enterprise's Digital Media Industry Advisory Group and Angus Digital Media Centre.

Now, as the new leader of the North-east's 125-year old art institution, Paul aims to establish Gray's as a hub of creative enterprise not only across Scotland but in Northern Europe.

Commenting on his appointment, Paul said: "Gray's School of Art produces a steady stream of talented professionals who drive the regions creative and cultural economy. I hope to lead the School in its vision to become a leading art and design school for Northern Europe whilst continuing to develop new talent in not only modern communication forms such as graphic design and digital media but in traditional crafts and fine arts including painting, printmaking and ceramics."

Since taking up his post in June, Paul has overseen the School's annual Degree Show which saw thousands of visitors flock to view and purchase final-year work showcased by the latest crop of talented student artists and designers.

Paul continues: "Taking up my post in time for the Degree Show gave me a great introduction to the wealth of talent at Gray's. The creative energy of our students and academics is of great encouragement as I look to the future of the School."

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