MA Design Practice alumni Lily Rose Cockfield, 24 years old based in Hartlepool, was recently nominated for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Hartlepool Business Awards! Lily studied with us at college, university and postgraduate level starting at UAL Level 3 Diploma in Art & Design, A-level Textiles, a undergraduate degree in BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design and completing her time at the school with her Masters in Design Practice.

Lily said “through my business, I transform ideas into bespoke murals, creative workshops, and original artwork that bring people together. My work is rooted in the belief that creativity has the power to connect, inspire, and empower people from all walks of life. At the heart of my practice is a passion for accessibility and inclusivity. I aim to create spaces where everyone feels confident exploring their creativity, regardless of their experience or background. Whether I’m painting large-scale murals or leading a hands-on workshops, my goal is always to help people see themselves as artists and to discover the joy and wellbeing that creativity can bring.”

She explains that “education and creativity has been a defining part of my life from a young age. I grew up watching my parents build their own successful business from nothing, which inspired my drive for independence and the belief that you can create your own path through hard work and perseverance. After graduating, I knew I wanted to pursue a path that combined art and creativity with community impact. This led me to launch my business to bring people together through art, whilst also paving the way for my practice to develop. I was faced with many people doubting me at first, but I soon proved them wrong. I also had doubts in myself in the beginning but I thought, why not just throw myself in the deep end, and I’ve never looked back since! Starting a business was both exciting and challenging. I faced a steep learning curve, particularly around the practicalities of self-employment such as pricing, time management, and bookkeeping. But I made a decision early on to embrace every opportunity that came my way. That commitment to saying yes to everything, no matter how daunting it may feel, has helped me develop quickly, build a strong network of collaborators, and grow both personally and professionally. I knew I needed to keep advancing my knowledge and skills once I left university, so I enrolled into a creative business course, which helped me substantially to further grow my business.”

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Hartlepool Business Awards

Reflecting on her nomination for Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Hartlepool Business Awards she commented “I was absolutely over the moon to be recently Shortlisted for the Young Entrepreneur award at Hartlepool Business awards 2025! At the beginning of my creative journey, I took a risk. I threw myself straight into being a freelancing Artist, I got a studio at The BIS and started to get myself out there, spreading my name and making an impression to potential clients, collaborators and other business.”

“I wanted to expand on my knowledge further and so I enrolled onto the Creative Catepult course at EMS in march 2025. This was an intensive business program that focuses on creatives specifically, which has definitely been something that has hugely benefitted my career so far. When enrolling onto the course, I had to meet with an advisor from EMS and it was this advisor that I first met, that nominated me to put my name forward for the business awards, months later!”

After completing the application process for the business awards, I was confident about how I’d articulated myself and my business, but I also had in the back of my mind that I’m only in my first year of business and there are so many successful candidates that will be applying. I was really hoping to be successful with this but I also knew that if I wasn’t, it was still a great opportunity for me to gain experience applying. When I received the email to say I’d been shortlisted, I was so proud of myself. I couldn’t wait to share the news with my incredible creative community!”

The event itself was professional and beautiful, but very intimidating. I felt honoured to be there representing myself and my business. As a creative, I feel the responsibility to spread the word about how incredible and important the arts are and this was such an amazing opportunity for that. In my category, I was up against two other candidates. Both businesses were very impressive but nothing to do with creativity. We were the only category that got an individual special mention alongside our headshots on the screen. This made me feel even more pride about being there and representing the creativity community in such a positive light. While the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for, the experience ignited a renewed sense of purpose within me, despite not getting the win, I was still so proud of myself!

Creative Education

“I followed my passion for creativity to The Northern School of Art, my time at there was absolutely incredible, genuinely life changing.” said lily who studied at the school from college to postgraduate level “It shaped not only my creative skills but also my sense of purpose as an artist and who I am as a person and a creative practitioner. The experience helped me to understand the kind of work I wanted to do and the impact I wanted to make. I was honoured to be chosen to do the valedictorian speech for the MA ceremony in July 2025. I left feeling inspired, confident, and ready to build a creative career that makes a difference. I couldn’t be more thankful to all of the amazing people working at The Northern School of art, if it wasn’t for all of you, I wouldn’t be half the person I am today.”

Community and educational projects inspire her work as an artist she explains “a significant part of my work involves collaboration with schools, charities, and community organisations. I have created and delivered creative workshops in a variety of settings, each one designed to be inclusive, accessible, and engaging. Workshops have included a World Book Day puzzle mural, at Beverley Primary School in Middlesbrough through OpenDoorArts, as well as creative sessions with Age UK, working with Alzheimer’s residents in Hemlington and Easterside.”

“One meaningful project I’ve recently completed includes ‘Our Freedom – then and now’ with Hartlepool Council, a national project working in collaboration with 60 other UK communities to deliver workshops and create exhibitions in England, Scotland, and Wales. Other projects include numerous creative workshops and community fun days at South Hub community centre. In addition to community work, I am passionate about inspiring the next generation of creatives. Earlier this year, I was chosen for a spotlight with Hartlepool Council on a promotional video for International Women’s Day, celebrating women in the arts and encouraging young people to consider creative careers. I have also offered work experience opportunities, recently mentoring a student from High Tunstall School, which was a particularly rewarding experience. Each of these projects have reinforced my belief that creativity is a catalyst for connection and pride within communities.”

S&DR200 Celebrations Event & Wintertide

Lily also worked on the recent S&DR200 Celebrations in stockton and Darlington,  “it was one of the most rewarding projects” she said “I worked with Norton Primary Academy creating a mural commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Railway. I presented to an assembly for over 400 students, ran creative workshops for year 3+ and painted their designs using every free wall space in their courtyard. This was the first job I took on myself with no support and I couldn’t have been more proud of the outcome. The school was overjoyed with the result!”

“I then collaborated with OpenDoorArts, on a project working across 10 primary schools in Middlesbrough and Stockton to design and paint a large-scale mural celebrating this historic milestone, which is currently being displayed at Stockton Riverside. Each school took part in creative workshops where pupils explored local history and contributed their own ideas to the final design. The results were vibrant, inspiring and showed collaborative artwork that reflected the pride and heritage of the community. It was a project that beautifully demonstrated the power of creativity to engage young people and bring communities together.”

I am based at The BIS in Hartlepool, I create and sell original artwork while continuing to develop community-based projects. I have benefited hugely from mentorships and guidance from established creatives and business professionals, which has been invaluable in helping me navigate the realities of running a growing creative business. I’m now a proud Ambassador of Etch, a community created by EMS. I am running the creative networking events across Hartlepool, Stockton, Darlington and Middlesbrough. Offering Business support and advice to the creative community. Every event runs from 10am-11:30am and any creative businesses and individuals are welcome.

I’m currently a Street Ambassador for Wintertide 2025, working in connection with High Tunstall College Of Science, delivering three incredible murals that will be displayed at the Festival. I will also be offering a public graffiti wall during the course of the festival and I’ll be encouraging members of the public to come and add their mark! Looking ahead, my ambition is not necessarily to expand in size, but to expand in impact. My focus is to continue to build strong partnerships with clients and creatives to design projects that are meaningful and lasting. I’ve got big things coming up for next year! I want my work to be recognised not only for its visual impact but for its social value, for the ways it brings people together, sparks creativity, and leaves a positive mark on the places it touches.

Advice for Creatives!

When asked what her advice for graduate starting out is she said “for graduates or emerging freelancers hoping to build a career in the creative industry, my advice would be to embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Growth often comes from saying yes to new experiences, even when they feel daunting. Each project, no matter how big or small, teaches you something valuable. The creative community in the North East is filled with inspiring and passionate individuals, that will be there to support and guide you in succeeding on your own creative journey. Take advice where possible and learn from experiences. Everyone is different and no one is perfect. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you, keep learning, and remember that success looks different for everyone. If you stay true to who you are and lead with your passion, your creative path will unfold naturally!”

Check out Lily’s work on her Instagram @Lrose.designs Email and website.