AN unemployed mum who was housebound with severe agoraphobia is opening doors to a new life after discovering her hidden artistic talents.

Just one year ago Kathleen Sowerby, 33, of Hartlepool, was unable to leave her home after suffering debilitating health and family problems.

With limited qualifications Kathleen’s job prospects were bleak but after being told about an access course to higher education at Cleveland College of Art & Design she is now looking at a much brighter future.

“This time last year I hadn’t left the house for a year and a half,” said Kathleen. “My health was suffering and my confidence was at rock bottom. I knew I needed to do something.

“The Job Centre told me about the access course here at The Northern School of Art and because I’d always enjoyed drawing as a teenager I decided to give it a go.”

The Northern School of Art’s one-year Access Course to Higher Education is designed to give mature students, over the age of 19, opportunities to return to college and gain a qualification to progress to a wide range of degrees and higher education courses.

It provides professional expertise to help with portfolio building for university interviews and covers a range of subject areas including drawing, textiles, 2D and 3D art, digital arts, art history and study skills.

The qualification can lead to opportunities at university including fashion, illustration, interior design, fine art, applied arts, entertainment design crafts, textiles and surface design and film and TV production.

“I can’t believe the change in me since coming here,” said Kathleen. “I’ve found it so liberating and it’s given me back the confidence that was missing for such a long time.

“The tutors are great and everyone is so friendly. From thinking I had no prospects I’m now looking to take a degree in illustration at The Northern School of Art’s university level campus in Hartlepool – it feels like I’ve got my life back.”

For more information on joining the Access to HE course in Art, please call 01642 288888.