A James Bond-themed exhibition by BA (Hons) Animation Production students from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is opening in the Café Gallery at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum.
The selected works include imagery featuring Russell-Cotes sketches and pieces from a James Bond-themed concept art project.
“This is a brilliant showcase of second-year BA (Hons) Animation Production work," says AUB Senior Lecturer Lucy Turner. "The students have made a series of digitally and traditionally drawn artwork around the theme of James Bond as an important part of their studies.
“Our Animation course is unique in terms of how traditional drawing skills and techniques are at the heart of the ethos and teaching, and this work is a remarkable example of that. And that’s why we’re thrilled to be showing at the Russell-Cotes; our students produce some incredible work, delivered to a really high standard, and it’s not very often that it’s exhibited somewhere that the public can come and see it.”
Jack Simmons, a second-year BA (Hons) Animation Production student, comments, “I’ve been visiting the Russell-Cotes since I first came to Bournemouth in 2023. It’s always inspired me and has been a place where I could enjoy the company of good art.
“Having my work featured there is an honour I never thought I would get and I’m delighted to be submitting some of my best work for this exhibition; one is a study of a beautiful painting in the upper floor of the museum and another is a concept art piece depicting a swordfight between James Bond and his nemesis.”
Fellow student Saffron Byrne-King adds, "During our three-hour visit to Russell-Cotes, I focused on the concept art stage, using their sculptures to practice capturing clear form, colour, and lighting. As someone developing my digital art skills, I used that environment to master the dramatic lighting I eventually applied to my final piece – a tense moment of confrontation between Bond and our villain.
“Coming into the animation course I was really passionate about 2D, especially traditionally hand-drawn animation. In industry now, you'll see that people shift towards digital drawing, and paper animation is rarer. I thought it would be a good opportunity during this unit to train my skills using digital software, as we are becoming more focused on industry roles, and also learn a bit more about lighting and shadows.”
On how it feels to be exhibiting at the Russell-Cotes, Saffron says, “It's a beautiful place to have my work displayed, and I'm incredibly excited for the rare opportunity to finally put my work out there like this.”
Also exhibiting is Polina Voronova with her concept piece, Pressure Point, which focuses on high-stakes narrative tension within an underwater setting.
When discussing the technical and emotional layers of her composition, Polina says, “Cool blue and turquoise tones suggest depth and technology, while subtle warm highlights draw attention to the central conflict.
“By using distorted light and reflections, I aimed to create a sense of isolation and instability that mirrors the psychological pressure between my characters.”
Sofia Raksheeva's piece, The Monster Behind Glass, was developed using digital tools to capture a high-tension narrative moment.
“My primary focus was building tension through environmental design," she says. "I wanted to exaggerate the sense of scale within the aquarium to make the scene feel more monumental.”
To achieve a tense and dramatic atmosphere, Sofia used thumbnail sketches to master shot composition and highlight the danger in a final battle scene. Her visual research involved studying architectural elements and unique silhouettes at the Russell-Cotes Museum to ground her digital Procreate work in real-world observation.
Santiago Cubillos Loughran showed an untitled work, drawing similarities between a Bond villain and the animation student.
He explains, “Bond villains are often gaudy, comical, and quite visually distinct in the sleek world of 007. As such, they have plenty in common with the average animation student.
“I’ve been told that the single greatest work of the animator is to create the illusion of life, and to make it believable," he continues. "Achieving that believability is often more difficult than it looks and I’m very proud of the hours I invested to make a simple standing pose look somewhat believable.”
“It's wonderful to see the Russell-Cotes and its internationally significant collections continue to inspire AUB’s Animation students," says Sarah Newman, Museum Manager at Russell-Cotes.
“This collaboration brings together Bournemouth’s cultural flagship and its leading creative arts institution, enriching students’ learning and creative practice while showcasing the talent of the next generation of creative practitioners.”
The AUB Animation exhibition will open in the Café Gallery at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum on 10 March, until 15 March.