A specialist art and design college has strengthened its education offering following the appointment of three academic staff with specialisms in fine art and illustration.

Tony Charles has been appointed as fine art lecturer alongside Nik Holmes and Frances Moffatt as illustration lecturers, joining the teaching team at Cleveland College of Art and Design’s (CCAD) University-level campus in Hartlepool.

Tony, Nik and Frances bring over 41 years of industry and academic experience to the roles, delivering first class teaching and sharing their expertise with degree students at the leading north east college.

As current director and artist at Platform A Gallery in Middlesbrough, Tony Charles oversees the contemporary art gallery, curating exhibitions as well as exhibiting his work nationally and internationally, with shows in Rome, France, New York, London and Middlesbrough.

A graduate from CCAD in 1999 with a degree in fine art, Tony went on to study for an MA in Fine Art at the University of Northumbria, before progressing his career and winning the 2103 Premio Comel Award in Rome. His works also featured in the 2013 contemporary artists’ publication, Nature Morte.

Tony, from Middlesbrough, has gained a reputation as an artist influenced by industrial concepts, processes and materials, blending painting, drawing and sculpture, and will provide students with a range of skills in preparation for a career in the arts.

He said: “I look forward to sharing my professional experience in order to prepare the undergraduates of CCAD for the industry they have chosen to embark upon.”

Fellow alumni Nik Holmes, from Middlesbrough, undertook a foundation studies course in art and design at CCAD, followed by a degree in fashion design at Manchester Metropolitan University.

He began his artistic career as an illustrator at WW Textiles, working on licensed characters and brands, before moving to UK Greetings where he spent four years illustrating greeting cards.

He then set up his own business as an illustrator and designer, combining a love of flat and chunky retro cartoons with old school graffiti to produce his own style of illustrations. This led to role as a graphic designer for a major feature film, providing large scale and featured graphic designs, typography and illustrations.

Alongside his role at CCAD, Nik is also a freelance illustrator at Zombiedollars Creative where he creates pop culture illustrations for t-shirts and prints. Nik said: “I’m excited to be able to share all my experience, the good and the bad, with CCAD and help prepare the next generation of illustrators for an exciting and rewarding career in the creative industry.”

Frances, from Guisborough, has joined Nik in the illustration department. After graduating from Northumbria University with a degree in fashion marketing, Frances went on to further study at the University of Sunderland where she gained her PCGE, followed by an MA in future design at the University of Teesside.

Frances joined Luella Ltd as an assistant accessories designer, where she gained industry experience in fashion design and illustration. Her teaching career began in 2009 when she first joined CCAD as a lecturer for the fashion and clothing national diploma, followed by her own freelance illustration business in 2011, which Frances still runs today. Alongside her own business, she worked as a freelance fashion illustrator at The Bright Group, where she completed commissions for the editorial, publishing and greetings card markets for clients such as Parragon Publishing and Go Girl Magazine.

In 2012, Frances undertook a number of roles within the education sector, including two short-term positions at CCAD as a visiting lecturer for the fashion enterprise degree and consultant for the illustration degree, and a three-year post as academic tutor for a post graduate programme at the University of Sunderland.

Frances has also authored and illustrated the fashion themed colouring-in and doodle book, ‘The Fashion Exercise Book’, which was published last year in the UK, France and the US. Her work has also featured in the Association of Illustrators IMAGES 35 Best of British Annual in the new talent category.

Frances said: “I am looking forward to teaching on CCAD’s innovative and exciting illustration degree programme, and sharing my skills and experience with the students.”

Martyn Raby, Principal, Cleveland College of Art and Design, said: “I would like extend a warm welcome to Tony, Nik and Frances to CCAD. Their passion for education and their own specialist industry expertise will further enhance the college’s first class teaching, and they will be a valuable addition to the academic team.”