Oxford today

For Russia with love
The artist inspired by Soviet history
Janet Treloar
Somerville 1961
Eight years ago, a trip to Russia
sparked a creative connection with
the Russians’ experiences during
the Second World War for Cornish
watercolour artist Janet Treloar.
“I grew up in the Cold War era
and for the first time I started to
understand what had happened in
Russia in the earlier war years,” she
says. “I produced a series of paintings
in the middle of winter. I responded to
the cold and severity of the country.”
Although Janet read geography
at Somerville, she admits to being
“terribly bored” by the subject and
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often wished she had switched to
history. She eventually turned to
painting, an interest that became
a profession. Historical themes have
often influenced her work, but Janet,
who served six years as vice-president
of the Royal Watercolour Society,
discovered an affinity with Russian
culture and landscape. “I felt very at
home there,” she says. “I hope that
after my paintings have been exhibited
at London’s Russian Embassy as part
of the commemoration of the Battle of
Stalingrad, the collection may find a
permanent home with the Scotland-
Russia Forum in Edinburgh. These
paintings are my way of saying thank
you to the Russian people.”
Sustainable
skills
Helping to fund community
energy projects
Emily Mackay
Jesus 2003
23
For Emily Mackay, reading music at Oxford proved
the perfect platform for developing the problemsolving
and research skills she would need to launch
Microgenius, the UK’s first and only web platform
to specialise in community shares in sustainable
energy. “I discovered it wasn’t possible to install
solar panels on our roof, so I looked online for
alternative investment opportunities,” she says.
It’s a growing market, with more community
energy projects launching all over the UK, and
a new dedicated government unit focusing on
this sector. “Within two years I’ve won the CEDAR
Enterprise Fellowship, an UnLtd Millennium
Award, been shortlisted for two other awards and
invited to Whitehall, all while juggling young
motherhood and a consultancy job. It’s been quite
a rollercoaster!”
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