Art & design students inspired by visit to Art & Design faculty at University of Derby

Visit to Art & Design faculty: Monday 4th Feb 2013

Foundation Diploma & BED 2 Art & Design students enjoying the lecture theatre at University of Derby

The art & design students spent the morning having a guided tour of the art & design faculty at University of Derby - looking at the studios and student work and getting advice on interview's. There was also a great exhibition of past student work of university of Derby students: 'University of Derby: The Alumni Show'. the show included the work  of Jon Braley, ex Leek College Art & Design student, an Alumnii of University of Derby so it was great for our current students to see the work of one of our ex students.

'The Alumni Exhibition is a selection from recent artwork in various media ranging from painting through to photography, sculpture and video by ex-Derby BA students. The work is by artists who have achieved a degree of success, reknown or noteriety within the contemporary art field since graduating from the University of Derby'.

Running until 22 February 9 - 5 pm Monday to Friday
The exhibition is held at University of Derby, Markeaton Street, Derby DE22 3AW

Jon Braley

      



Jon Braley

  

"The John Moores Painting Prize is the Oscar of the British painting world"

- Sir Norman Rosenthal, curator and former exhibitions secretary at the Royal Academy

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/johnmoores/jm2010/exhibitors/braley.aspx

Defining moment for Jon Braley

A VISIT to Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery proved a defining moment for Jon Braley.

It was back in the mid 1990s, while Jon was a photography student at Leek College, that he first visited the gallery to see artwork on show for the UK’s biggest painting competition – the John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize. Little did he realise at that point that in 2010 his own paitning would be selected to be part of the John Moored exhibiton.

That visit inspired Jon to switch courses – he knew he wanted to become an artist, not a photographer. He switched over to Art and Design and his college art course led on to University in Derby where he studied for a degree in Fine Art going on to complete his Masters in European Fine Art. Now, at the age of 34, he’s exhibiting his own work in that very competition which set him on the road to success after his painting was shortlisted from almost 3,000 entrants.

Jon, who grew up on Leek’s Haregate Estate and is now a successful modern artist living and working in London, is among just 45 artists showing their work at the Walker Art Gallery until January 3 2011. The exhibition is known for spotting rising talent and the winner scoops £25,000 prize money.

Jon said: “It was Leek College that took me to the Walker Gallery and, before I enrolled at college, I never had any thought of becoming a painter. In fact I disliked school and it was only when I started college that I really felt accepted for what I am.

“I loved my days at college because I was treated as an adult and felt free, for the first time in my life, to do what I wanted to do. It never occurred to me though that I could actually make money from painting and now, if I’m having a bad day, I always remind myself that some of my friends have terrible jobs and I’m privileged to be working at something I enjoy.”

http://www.modernartistsgallery.com/artistdetails/9_JonBraley.php

http://www.sesameart.com/exhibitions/jbelements/jbraleytepr.php