FREE taster session for adults on Thursday 17th May, 1pm-3pm at The Northern School of Art’s Green Lane campus, Middlesbrough.

ARTISTIC designers are seeing stars after a return to learning set them on a career in film and television.

Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD) entertainment and design craft students Michael McGee and Billy Cessford have been rubbing shoulders with A list celebrities after a creative career change saw them switch factory and building site jobs for the stage and screen.

Former builder Michael McGee, of Middlesbrough, thought his career had come to an end after a severe back injury forced him to give up his job.

“After my accident I didn’t think I would work again,” said Michael, 52. “I still wanted to do something practical and I’d always been creative, so I decided to go on a course to learn drawing.

“I enjoyed it so much I did lots more over the next ten years, including painting, graphics, photography and digital imagery.”

Then Michael was told about an Adult Learners’ Week taster session and a new BTEC diploma art & design 19+ course at CCAD.

After completing the one year course, Michael signed up for a three year degree course in entertainment and design crafts at CCAD, making and working on props for feature films.

Now set to graduate he has already worked on sets including the feature film January, starring Game of Thrones actor James Cosmo, crime drama Harrigan, with Wild at Heart star Stephen Tompkinson and the thriller Interview with a Hitman, with 80s heart throb Luke Goss, of Bros.

After ten years working in a spray paint factory Billy Cessford, 32, is also set to embark on a new venture after exploring his creative talents at a The Northern School of Art taster day.

“I’d left my job and moved to Redcar but couldn’t find anything that I wanted to do,” said Billy.

“I’d always had an interest in tattoo art so when I saw the Adult Learners’ Week taster session at The Northern School of Art advertised in the paper I thought I’d give it a go.”

Billy has worked on four feature films and a TV series to date including Song for Marion, with Terrance Stamp, Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Eccleston, A German film, The Other Child, Joe Maddison’s War, Storm City and George Gently.

He has now set up his own company, Billy Cessford Scene Solutions, (www.billycessford.com) sourcing props for films and events worldwide.

Cleveland College of Art & Design is offering adults of all ages the opportunity to come along to a free taster session to develop new skills as part of the UK’s largest and longest running adult learning campaign.

The Northern School of Art course leader for first diploma in art and design 19+ Amanda Smith said: “Our Adult Learners’ Week taster session is designed to let people come along and have fun with art.

“People will also get the chance to see current students work and there will be time for questions about the BTEC Level 2 first diploma art & design 19+ course at the end. I am so proud of all my students and the careers they are able to progress onto after completion of the 19+ course.”

The taster course will run from 1pm-3pm, at The Northern School of Art’s Green Lane campus, Middlesbrough, on Thursday 17th May, with all materials provided free of charge.

For more information on Adult Learners’ Week contact Cleveland College of Art & Design on (01642) 288888 or if you’d like to book on to our adult learners’ week taster session, please reserve your place below and we’ll see you on 17th May!