By Amanda Durry  December 22, 2011

Fraser Chirnside is an artist of many talents.

He’s always been creative and at 33, he’s just finished his first year as an arts and media student at Aoraki Polytechnic.
It was curiosity which led him to the course and it is his passion for all things creative that has helped him grow as an artist.
The course is more about fine arts – the word media tends to confuse people – and for him, it was about learning to develop conceptual ideas through research and different elements of design.
It’s also a step closer to a degree level, which the Methven local intends to do.
As well as the course, Mr Chirnside is a member of a band, works at the local Cinema Paradiso and runs the film society. He also founded the Methven community radio and said he’s truly enjoying living as a creative person.
“Everybody has the creative potential in them but some people don’t know how to express it freely.
“I was doing everything else creatively so it was just out of curiosity that I found that course. It was just part of the puzzle I hadn’t worked on yet.
“With going to a place like Aoraki, it has made it easier for me to create new avenues of creative expression. Before, I would have an idea but now I can really let rip because it’s a much more nurturing environment for an artist,” he said.
Mr Chirnside worked in hospitality for many years and spent a few years in Australia but is now set on what he wants to do.
“I want to be creative all the time,” he said.
He also wants to combine his passion for art with a desire to diversify the local Methven culture through art, which will be an ongoing project.