Redcar & Cleveland College has showcased the latest crop of creative and artistic talent to come from its respected Art & Design course for the last time at its old campus. New students and those beginning their second year will move into the new £26 million college building early in September.

The first and second year BTEC National Diploma Art & Design students exhibited digital work, drawings, painting, ceramics and Antonio Gaudi inspired panels that will take them a step closer to university places and jobs.

The second year students will follow hot on the heels of previous college students who have gone on to achieve career success from the Art & Design course at Redcar & Cleveland College. These include Craig Pinder, who is now the graphic designer at Middlesbrough Football Club and Amy Wilde, whose talent is employed by the Hallmark greeting card company. Amy designed a highly successful national Christmas campaign for Hallmark in Asda stores last year.

From the final year students Sarah Hall, a former pupil at Rye Hills School, will go on to a degree course in graphics at the University of Teesside, Stephanie Weeding, a former Redcar Community College pupil demonstrated the ability to become an accomplished fine artist and Catherine Chung exhibited her command of digital art skills.

Colin Cook, BTEC National Diploma Art & Design course leader at the college said, ”We work closely with our partner school, Rye Hills, to encourage 14 and 15 year olds who are creative and artistic to come to college. As part of an applied GCSE course they work on the basics, including photography and use of digital imaging software and drawing the people and places that inspire them.

“We find these young people have skills and a work ethic that can be channelled to grow creatively and combine with learning and advice that start to shape commercial and business skills. Craig Pinder’s passion for graphic design and his love of Middlesbrough Football Club is a great example of what they can achieve. To go on and get a dream job with his football club and to then design their new club badge is amazing.

“When we move into the College’s new purpose-built building in September, the Art & Design courses will go from strength to strength. There will be excellent new facilities, including 18 new computers with the latest graphic cards and software to offer the best creative and practical learning platforms, plus a significant investment in items like a band saw and mitre-forming equipment for work with plastics and wood.”