OIlwork - by Sue Jane Taylor
Whilst most recently have been involved directly with the oil and gas industry in the Middle East from Tunisia to Libya, Indonesia and Dubai, I originally brushed with the industry via artist Sue Jane Taylor who had been commission by Talisman Energy to produce a book covering the momentous changes to the Highlands in the ‘Black Gold’ rush of the 70’s and 80’s. Designed from concept through to digital artwork, the book tells the moving story of workers from the early days through to the tragic Piper Alpha accident which led to the first safety movement in the industry, represented by OPITO. The small orange buoy on the cover represents the original position of the Piper Alpha platform which the artist had visited just two days before the accident. Sue Jane Taylor was awarded the commission for the Piper Alpha memorial monument in Aberdeen.