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Boing…
Like the irrepressible Zebedee, in the 1970s children’s TV classic series Magic Roundabout, ‘Boing’ represents the trajectory and energy of this course and the latest group of graduates. They are launching into their future careers and lives, their journeys and destinations will be as individual and different as their personal narratives, interests, obsessions, cultures, backgrounds and visions. The student work this year has been created using a diversity of platforms and processes, from drawing to digital, printmaking to 3D, animation to ceramics. What connects the work and the underlying strength and philosophy of the course is visual narrative, social documentary and storytelling. It is the diverse messages and ideas that the work communicates, reflecting contemporary society and culture, that are important. The work helps to frame our understanding of the world. Good illustration is defined by its message, as well as its medium. As illustrators they have developed many transferrable skills, which are in demand with employers everywhere. They are excellent researchers, entrepreneurs, communicators, team players, problem solvers, project managers, visual and critical thinkers as well as being sensitive to their surroundings and those they work with. But above all, to be an illustrator is to be curious.
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Jane Cradock-Watson Course Leader BA & MA Illustration
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UCA’s renowned and long established specialist Illustration course, based at the Farnham campus, has a strong reputation for visual narrative and storytelling, underpinned by an understanding that the best of illustration is based on exciting, original ideas. The emphasis of the course is on visual experimentation, investigation and innovation, supported by the development of strong ideas, drawing and storytelling skills.
Based in spacious, purpose built well lit studios, students have access to an extensive range of facilities on campus including animation, printmaking, risograph printing, book production, ceramics, Mac suites, digital printing, 3D workshops, textiles, photography and moving image. The course is ideally suited to students who want to develop a strong, individual style and explore the relationship between illustration and the wider socio-political and cultural contexts of contemporary life. Illustrators have a unique way of seeing the world, then interpreting and communicating this visually to a wider audience - harnessing both the traditional techniques of drawing, printmak-
ing, animation and bookmaking, as well as new processes and media, such as digital illustration, digital photography, online publishing and interactive illustration. Students investigate ideas through drawing, text, sequential design, book production, moving image, printmaking, three dimensions and creative writing. They have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of media, processes and techniques that reflects the evolving nature of contemporary illustration. The delivery of the course curriculum reflects contemporary working patterns in the creative industries; collaborative and flexible, challenging and experimental, initiating new opportunities for shared and individual work. The studio community is central to student experience, supportive and friendly. They are taught largely through studio-based projects and workshops, supported by regular tutorials and group reviews - there’s a lively programme of visiting speakers, practical skills-based workshops, pop up exhibitions, live projects and external visits. Jane Cradock Watson
D US TE D OF F
OXFAM get over 100,000 books donated every year. Some are in great condition ready to be sold straight away; others however are a little less perfect and not so easy to sell. Year 1 Illustration students got the opportunity to work with Oxfam to give some of these classic old books new life. Over three weeks we worked on a live project to create an original set of new dustjackets for Oxfam to then sell on. Every student will be given a slightly tired, but beautifully formed, book and asked to reinvent it for a new readership. To mark the success of the project, UCA & Oxfam organised a joint exhibition “Dusted-Off� a celebration of our shared love of books and the timeless connection between illustration and storytelling. Fiona White
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From left to right: Ceramics, increasing in popularity with illustration students. Hot metal type in the printmaking studio. Screenprinting An everchanging selection of publications in the studio.
Below top: Language Lab Below bottom: Setting up an Online Shop Right: Drawing with Sewing Machines
S TU DI O
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L A TE S After lectures when most people have gone home, the studios are empty, echoing the days activities. A piece of A4 drifts to the floor from the draught of the last person to leave. A breeze drifts in from the skylight as a person clears up and prepares materials. After half an hour students start to drift in, uncertain about what they are about to take part in. They are from all year groups, probably never met, tentative conversations start. “Who are you?” “What year are you in?” “Have you done this before?” There’s a tutor hovering leaving a small amount of time to allow for stragglers, those that have gone out to Starbucks for coffee to go with the cakes and biscuits sitting on the tables. Those who haven’t had lectures today but are coming in especially, arrive. There’s a handful of students who attend every one of these Studio Lates, no matter what the task or subject. “If we put on a studio late session about making bricks you’d be here,” “I would, I could build my own house then.” After hours learning has proved very popu-
lar this year, designed to extend the curriculum and cover possibilities not normally in the timetable. Some of the areas covered were Drawing with a Sewing Machine. The sewing machines sit around mostly wanting to join things together. Fabric, paper, card, make images, sew books, decorate, make structures. The whirr and hum of the machines soon takes over the studio. Drawing to film. Simple, screen a film with a strong story, dramatic visuals, changing pace, spaghetti westerns are good for this. The film runs, no stopping and you draw continously in the form of a graphic novel from start to finish. a test of observation, memory and speed. The Good the Bad and the Ugly and A Fisful of Dollars have been particularly successful. Drawing with knives introduced the students to cutting vinyl and applying it to the windows. It sounded dangerous and was quite popular for that reason alone. Popular for another reason was Setting up an Online Shop and Crowdfunding. The lure of making money is too hard to resist. Some tutors were seen to be shifting around in their seats at the back in this one. Essential information for survival in the creative world.
Big, was a straightforward exercise of selecting a small object from a box and drawing it huge on a large sheet of paper. Looking through magnifying glasses at times, detail was crucial. Every scratch, dent, tone and texture was to be recorded. Lying on the floor, sprawled across tables, stepladders against a wall were all utilised to aid the drawing. Language Lab introduced students from different countries to each other and explored their heritage, language, food and culture through drawing and word games. Words and definitions were compared and publications made about traditional favourite foods. this was one of the most popular ‘lates’ as students valued being able to remember and share what they love about their country. Six staff and many students have made this first year a favourite. Two hours of unassessable activity, learning a new skill or improving an old one should hopefully expand next year. I’m already stockpiling films to work with, action. Robin Chevalier
E NT R EPE N E U RS The term ‘entrepreneur’ is used to describe someone who seeks and finds opportunities in business, especially when it involves seeing a new opening and taking risks. The relevance to the creative industries, especially Illustration, is obvious. The Association of Illustrators new campaign #not a hobby, highlights the contribution illustration has made to
the cultural economy, business is booming, as is the proliferation of Illustration courses. Illustration can be seen on the high street, advertising, on our TV and computer screens, mobile devices, film and animation. In fact, everywhere there are images, there is illustration. But as Illustrators we are not always that good at helping ourselves. If we want to be taken seriously as professionals we need to treat what we do as a business by being entrepreneurial, adopting professional behaviours and seeking new
contexts for our work. A successful illustrator needs to be adaptable, flexible and above all entrepreneurial. Illustrators need to respond to the ever changing demands of our visual culture and explore and create new contexts for illustration in the future. For students, the hardest part is not getting the degree, but in getting started as a professional once they leave and in finding that first opportunity. So where do you start? Importantly, the
15 preparation and pre planning before you leave university is essential. It is easy to put this off until after you graduate, but without the support network of the course and peer group it is easy to get side tracked and abandon your aspirations. Writing a business plan is an essential part of starting out‌ Illustrators need to be flexible and adaptable in order to capitalise on a variety of
opportunities, recognising and embracing the idea of a portfolio career. As an Illustrator, not only do you need to be good at producing creative work, but you also have to be a sales person, contract negotiator, accountant and entrepreneur. Being adept at telling your own story is a great start. By knowing your work, you are better able to identify where to apply it; using your problem solving skills and imagination you can understand the creative potential of your work. Being punctual, negotiating
a contract and presenting yourself confidently, all help to convince others to treat you like a professional. Cultivating good habits to promote creativity, such as keeping up with personal projects helps keep your work fresh. To be an illustrator is to be a creative entrepreneur, it is a career, a business and an opportunity to be a part of our booming creative economy. Jane Cradock Watson
T AL KIN G HE A D S “Freeing….this university is very broad, in terms of the subject you are studying, its not rigid, you can experiment with everything “ Lewis Danielski year 1 “We’ve had good projects, I understand what I’m doing, but loads of work” Hollie Ksparis Year 1 “Opportunity to develop your work. Never judgemental. Given motivation to push it further” Lena Smyrniotaki Year 1 “I have enjoyed the briefs, and the workshops outside studio time, things like ceramics and studio lates” Tasha Edwards Year 1 “I think I’m now a lot less likely to go with the first idea that comes into my head” Tasha Edwards Year 1
“Its given me purpose, I felt like I’ve learnt so many new skills and so many new ways of seeing and thinking. Community and staff are very approachable, supportive and friendly” Lucy Freeborn Year 1 “Everyone is just friendly, staff and students, the community is very supportive” Wen Yi Year 1 “It has a lot more different facilities” Henriette Lilllegaard Year 1
“Its helped me experiment with materials and has made me feel more comfortable handling those materials” Ciaren Grainger Year 1 Its comfortable here. I have a creative family. They can support me” Ilia Brown Year 1 “Creative community is very open minded, creative people understand each other” Katie Spencer Bell Year 1 Year 1 students have their say and mean it.
I felt a little unsure at the start about what course was best for me but quickly felt reassured illustration was right. Henriette Lilllegaard Year 1 “Entrepreneurial. Learning how to sell your work rather than just using materials” Belinda Levitt Year 1
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F U TUR E Top right: Kerry Lemon Bottom right: Rachel Sale
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Our third year students had an incredible opportunity meeting four leaders in the field of illustration, expanding their awareness of the vast range of careers paths they can take after graduation. The practitioners Owen Gildersleeve and Rachel Sale opened their studios for an intimate look at their practice and working methods, giving students unique perspectives of working in the industry. Scriberia director Chris Watson was kind enough to host a dynamic seminar, introducing the students to the field of graphic facilitation. With clients as diverse as the BBC and Google, this is something that Scriberia has elevated to an innovative new form of visual communication. The house of illustration, the UK’s first institution dedi-
cated exclusively to illustration, took the students through the process of setting up a small business, as well as using their transferable skills towards educational outreach programs. The day was complimented by a series of talks at our Farnham campus, with more focus on practical strategies for self-promotion and portfolio guidance. BBC art director David Weller, artist Kerry Lemon, Nosy Crow books and the illustration agency CIA shared valuable insights and a range of approaches for flourishing in the field of contemporary illustration. Iro Tsavala & Tom Dowse
From left to right: Rebekah Kavanagh Ellie Martell Beth Forde Ryan Waddon
W AN D ER F E S T
As I write this piece, the clamour, excitement and dust has died down from the Year 2 end of year exhibition. Instead of developing a new project the students were asked to re-visit an old one and re-configure it. Take it in a different direction, be dangerous and take risks. At the same time organise an event rather than an exhibition, showing their work differently, running workshops, talks and demonstrations. Fund-
raising, publicity, curation, co-ordination was all carried out by the students with great success. Highly organised, they produced strong work to exhibit, developing their professional skills and entrepenurial opportunities. Realising the full potential of their individual projects, and the week long show proved popular with everyone. Robin Chevalier
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Left to right: Visiting Lecturer Warwick Johnson Cadwell Year 2 students Zoe, Erin, Steph and Marianne at HiFest
H I FE S T Horizontal rain and gale force winds welcomed us in Hastings. “Take time to explore the Old town and the beach� I said. I may just as well have suggested a walk in a wind tunnel. As part of Professional Practice, year 2 travelled to Hastings for the Hastings Illustration Festival. We thought it would be a good example of one piece of illustration commerce, publicity and people interraction, and it was. HiFest is a compact festival packed with quality, a variety of work that the
The way in
students enthusiastically viewed and bought. There were stalls, talks and a small cafe. Two students who come from Hastings went home for lunch, leaving the rest of us wrestling with windswept chips and seagulls. Ex student Faye Moorhouse and visiting lecturers Nick White and Warwick Johnson Cadwell were selling their work. The students picked brains as part of their research. Blown away in more ways than one, we headed home with a French waffle each and flyaway hair. Robin Chevalier
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A L UM N I Top right: Lucy Waldman Bottom right: Toby Curden
Since graduating I have had a few professional editorial illustration jobs, which is amazing. The first one was for a poetry magazine, which gave me real creative freedom. There’s no feeling like completing your first ‘real’ job (as long as you get it in on time!). I have gone on to do a few more commissions – some better than others- but I would recommend going for these opportunities, as its all great experience, and portfolio building. Having a strong online presence was no doubt the way I was selected for some of these jobs. I also interned in an experienced illustrators studio. This was such an amazing experience, and I would recommend you all to do it. The course really prepared me for all of these opportunities, and how to deal with stressed art directors and publishers. I am currently trying to make images for a children’s book about a cloud, which I am hoping to self-publish.
It is certainly a labour of love, but it’s great to have the freedom to make what you want to! The professional guidance I received on this project via the ‘graduate mentor scheme’ has been invaluable. My advice to anyone on the course would be to make work that’s exciting – not sellable! This is your time to experiment. Enter competitions, collaborate with other illustrators, be reliable, have fun and most importantly be nice. Although I am just starting out, I am determined to work hard to hopefully one day soon be a full time illustrator. Watch this space! Lucy has been shortlisted for the V & A Illustration competition and AOI/ London Transport Poster competion. Lucy Waldman, Graduated 2017
“Looking back at the course a year after graduation I am so glad to say it gave me what I came looking for when I applied to study in the UK. Three years is enough time to have ups and downs in both life and studies, but if you know what you are aiming for it is fantastic to have access to the facilities to learn and mentors you can turn to. It is hard work and it’s important to take care of yourself, but it’s also very rewarding if you apply yourself and seek out the opportunities available. The course has helped me grow as an artist and to apply professional working methods to my practice, has awakened an academic passion for the arts and their cultural impact and most importantly has given me the tools I need to feel confident in building myself a career as an illustrator.”
Toby Curden Graduated 2018 Contact: tobycurden@outlook.com Website: www.tobycurden.com Twitter and Instagram: @tobycurden
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26 Rebecca Dennis, a current 3rd year was shortlisted for the prestigious Folio Book Prize. This is her cover for “Howl’s Moving Castle” by Diana Wynne Jones. The Folio society has been publishing special edition books for 70 years.
At the end of the year, 1st year students were asked to respond to each of their projects in the form of a postcard. The message on the back reflected what they had learnt. They were posted to Fiona White, 1st year tutor
Developing a personal manifesto during the “Exhibition� unit threw up some interesting debate. Ryan from year 2, graphically interprets his own opinion on the matter.
PESKY ART
From our beginnings in the Victorian era as a collection of public art and design colleges in Canterbury, Epsom, Guildford, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester, to being named Modern University of the Year (Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019),UCA has dedicated itself to shaping and inspiring artists fit to work in the thriving creative industries for 150 years. It is ranked the top specialist Arts University for graduate employment with 96.9% of graduates being employed within 6 months of graduating (DHLE 2018). The Farnham Illustration course, originally based in Maidstone, has a long heritage as one of the first specialist Illustration courses in the UK, producing successful Illustrators for the rapidly expanding and evolving creative industries for at least 45 years.
VI S I T I N G LE C T UR E R S Marie Jacotey www.itsnicethat.com/articles/ marie-jacotey-goodbye-darkness-art-291018 Rachel Lillie www.rachel-lillie.co.uk Margaux Carpentier www.margauxcarpentier.com Laura Copsey www.lauracopseyart.com Jon Halls www.jonhallsillustration.com Robert Sae Heng www.robertsae-heng.co.uk Warwick Johnson Cadwell www.warwickjohnsoncadwell.co.uk Mike Nicolson www.ensixteeneditions.blogspot.com Russell Cobb www.russellcobb.com Eleanor Taylor www.eleanortaylor.co.uk Eileen Ramsey Mandy Brannan www.mandybrannan.co.uk Esther McManus www.esthermcmanus.co.uk Marie Kapajeva www.mariakapajeva.com Vanessa Rolf www.vanessarolf.com Dana Giurescu www.danagiurescu.com Noriko Suzuki Bosco www.norikosuzukibosco.com Miriam Elgon : www.miriamelgon.com
Joshua Armitage www.josharmitage.co.uk Curtis Tappenden www.curtistappenden.com Serena Katt: www.serenakatt.co.uk Kerry Lemon www.kerrylemon.co.uk Eleanor Meredith www.eleanormeredith.co.uk Rachel Sale www.rachelsale.co.uk Scriberia www.scriberia.co.uk Stephen Fowler www.stephenfowler72.blogspot.com Owen Gildersleeve www.owengildersleeve.com AOI (Association of Illustrators) BBC Central Illustration Agency Nosy Crow Books House of Illustration OXFAM Farnham Castle Philosophers Magazine Spitfire Audio
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Credits and Thanks Designed, Art Directed & Edited by Robin Chevalier and Jane Cradock-Watson All Photography by teaching staff and students on BA Illustration With thanks to all the Illustration Academic staff team, including: Jim Walker, Robin Chevalier, Iro Tsavala, Fiona White and Tom Dowse, as well as the students and alumni who contributed. All Farnham support teams especially: Altea Grau Vidal, Tony Lee, Michele Shields and Katie Prendergast. Printed by: Pureprint Published by: The Lion and Lamb Press www.illustration.uca.ac.uk/ Instagram: ucaillustration Twitter: @illustrationUCA
Jane Cradock Watson Course leader Robin Chevalier Senior Lecturer Jim Walker Senior Lecturer Iro Tsavala Senior Lecturer Fiona White Senior Lecturer Tom Dowse Lecturer Image right: Beth Forde
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BA (Hons) Illustration University for the Creative Arts Falkner Road Farnham Surrey GU9 7DS 01252 2222441