The students in this post are ex-Foundation Degree students with the work they have gone on to do since completing the degree at Leek School of Art. Some have gone on to further courses- adding a third year top up to their degree or gone into working as an artist /designer.
Josh Howard
Specialism Fine Art
Specialism Fine Art
Winner Staffordshire Open Arts 2012 & 2013
Sarah Taylor
Specialism Surface Pattern
Sarah now designs, prints and hand-finishes home interior products such as ceramics, lightshades, wallpaper and screen printed fabrics.
Sarah Taylor was selected as one of four students who got to showcase their creative skills on the world stage as part of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Stoke-on-Trent entered the Chelsea Flower Show with a stunning Transformation Garden – with the express intention of growing the city’s international reputation as a hothouse for inward investment and enterprise.
Surface pattern students also worked on fabric designs for a display of cushions for the ornamental seating. Academic group leader Sarah Peart said: “We were given mood boards from the City council to work to and the designs took account of the flowers that are in the garden. The gardens are beautiful.”
Sarahs cushions at Chelsea.
Joanne Taylor
Specialism Glass
set up her own company Callula Glass in the 2nd year of the course
Presented with
a business award from Theo Paphitis
'Callula Glass is a British brand of colourful fused glass designed and made by hand and kiln by me, Joanne Taylor, in my rural Cheshire workshop. I love to create gorgeous glass gifts and home accessories to treasure, bring a smile to your face and add a splash of colour to any room.
Inspiration comes in many forms; from the iridescent exoskeleton of a beetle to the peeling facade of a once brightly painted door. I just love to be surrounded by colour, from bold brights and pretty pastels to cool coastals and earthy neutrals (and every hue and shade in between!)
I am endlessly fascinated with glass as a medium; the alchemyinvolved, its interplay with light, the tactile nature of a finished piece and the element of surprise when you open the kiln after many hours of heating and cooling. I’m at my happiest in my workshop with a peppermint tea and the radio on, brandishing my glass cutter and a jumbo pack of plasters!
I am constantly exploring new techniques, developing my skills and take great pride in undertaking each part of the process by hand. By purchasing a piece from the Callula Glass collection, you can be assured that every piece is unique, tactile and collectable.
Callula Glass has even caught the eye of former BBC Dragon Theo Paphitis, from whom I received a Small Business Award and a commission to make a set of bespoke coasters!
Val Travers-Muir
Val runs her own printed textiles business selling through artisan markets and galleries.
'I use digital and traditional printing methods to turn my original designs into textiles that will brighten your day and make you smile. My designs start from scribblings of things I encounter in my everyday life in Derbyshire, and holidays in Norfolk and further afield. I like to use natural fabrics and bright, strong colours'.
'I use digital and traditional printing methods to turn my original designs into textiles that will brighten your day and make you smile. My designs start from scribblings of things I encounter in my everyday life in Derbyshire, and holidays in Norfolk and further afield. I like to use natural fabrics and bright, strong colours'.
Linda Evans
Specialism Mixed Media/Textiles
Suzanne Pearson
Specialism Fine Art
‘The course
was a great way to meet like minded artists; a group of us got together in our 2nd
year to form Contemporary Mix and
continue to successfully exhibit together.’
Suzanne is also one
of the organisers of a new prestigious art competition run by artists for
artists which will take place in Buxton during 2014. Entitled "The Buxton Spa Prize" this will
involve artists painting "en plein air" at locations around the town
in May and June, followed by an exhibition and sale of work in September.
Joanne Reay
Statement
As a mixed media artist, I like to create spontaneous, bright and colourful pieces usually on aluminium. Inspired by family issues, I like to focus on the positive side of life and portray this in my work using a wide range of techniques including screen printing, collage, image transfer and painting.
Joanne sells as a freelance artist/designer regularly at artisan markets & events, is a member of contemporary mix and is a member of the prestigious Peak District Artisans.
Joannes most recent work is based on the British Seaside: 'Are we nearly there yet?'
British culture is all around us and I would like to investigate the British culture around seaside resorts and family holidays. I remember going on days out to places like Blackpool, Southport and Morcombe. Also we had the odd week away to Wales. Rhyll and Butlins in Pwllheli. I remember fairground rides, donkey rides and crazy golf amongst all the hustle and bustle. Getting sunburnt, sand in my butties and getting stuck in the sand on Southport beach. “Where’s the sea?” was a regular comment at Southport as the tide always seemed to be out. Postcards were always sent back home to our friends, but usually turned up after we had got back home.
Technique
Background has been painted using acrylic and texture paste to great an ice cream effect consistency applied with a piece of mount board.
Structures (Blackpool Tower, Helter Skelter and Carousel were all sketched in pencil to create a more simplified image which has been photographed and flipped to in Photshop to create a reverse image to be printed out onto a piece of thin card.
On the reverse of the thin card I then apply 2 or more image transfers using emulsion and varnish to create a colourful, slightly abstract image which incorporates elements from the British seaside. The printed image (Blackpool Tower, etc) is then cut out using a scalpel and when finished leaves a cut out shape on the reverse where the images transfers are.
The acrylic background is glued onto a thick piece of foam board onto which the cut out is pinned onto to finish.
Contemporary Mix
Contemporary Mix is 6 visual artists who have been exhibiting together since Autumn 2010. Their current work, a collection of mixed-media, print, textiles and paint, is inspired by the Staffordshire Moorlands, family, homes and natural plant forms.
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