Future fashionistas, promising photographers and aspiring artists are among those preparing for their end of year Art & Design show at Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys Campus this month.
The students will showcase their talents in media production, fine art, fashion, photography, interactive media and graphics from 21 – 24 June, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, photographs, fashion designs, garments, films, computer graphics, ceramics, installations, game designs, illustrations, animation and multi-media.
Budding fashion designer Liam Johnson (18 from Blaina) will be enrolling at the prestigious Central St Martins College of Art & Design after the summer: “I am really excited to showcase my work at the show. The work I’m showing is influenced by the mining industry. It features a belt which was worn by my grandfather, who was a miner, and it was him who inspired me to take up photography so it will be great for my family and friends to see my work.”
Also hoping to follow in the footsteps of his idols Issey Miyake and Thierry Mugler is Tom Williams from Newport. The 18-year-old is heavily influenced by religion, Andy Warhol, the 1960s and the factory culture: “I’ve been interested in fashion from a young age, ever since my gran taught me to sew when I was 7 years old. I’ve come a long way since, and thanks to the course and my tutors, I’ve had the support, encouragement and motivation to really grow as a designer – I’m in such a different place creatively than I was at the beginning of the course two years ago. It’s been a real whirlwind but I’ve loved every minute of it so to see the fruit of our labour at the show is really exciting!”
Eighteen-year-old Hannah Parfitt from Hollybush (near Blackwood) will be starting a degree in marine and wildlife photography in Falmouth in September: “I’m really excited to be showing my work next week. Although the last two years have flown by I’ve certainly matured as a photographer. This is the first time I’ve exhibited my work on such a scale so I’m a little nervous but it’s great preparation for university shows, I can’t wait!”
