Find out more about UAL Extended Diploma in Fine Art student Eve Fenton, winner of The Northern School of Art’s Joe Cole Award, given to the student with the most outstanding work across our FE and HE campuses.

The Joe Cole Award has been running for many years and it is judged by a former member of the School’s staff, Ken Young, who taught alongside Joe Cole when they used to be lecturers at the School.

Joe Cole grew up in Redcar and showed considerable artistic potential as a child. He studied at Scarborough School of Art and volunteered for the RAF in 1939, when the second world war broke out. Having served throughout the war, including taking part in the D-Day landings, Joe was demobbed from the RAF in 1946 and resumed his studies at Scarborough before starting a long career as a lecturer at Cleveland College of Art and Design (as The Northern School of Art used to be called).

Here Joe developed into a highly respected and inspirational teacher who launched many successful art careers. Joe was also a highly gifted artist in his own right, but he never sought public acclaim. It was only after his death in 1984 that he began to be recognised as one of the leading British artists of his time. Examples of his original paintings have featured successfully in a number of selling exhibitions at Messum’s Gallery in London’s Cork Street.

• What is your home town and which school/college did you join the School from?

I’m from Darlington and went to Hurworth Secondary School before I joined the Middlesbrough campus.

• Why did you choose to study at The Northern School of Art?

It was the best college for the course I wanted to take. 

• What’s your favourite memory of your time at the School (academically as well as socially!)

The opening night for the final exhibition. It was a brilliant experience!

• What are you doing next and what are your plans/ambitions for the future?

I’m off to Northumbria University to study fine art. 

• Do you have any advice for future students applying for the same course as you?

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different things also listen to your tutors as they always know what’s best for you. 

• Where can people find out more about your work? 

My Instagram is @evejaneart

Further information about the UAL Extended Diploma in Fine Art course at The Northern School of Art’s Middlesbrough campus is available HERE