The future generation of artists and designers put their talents in the spotlight as the annual summer show at The Northern School of Art (CCAD) opened at the Green Lane campus in Middlesbrough.

Students showcased their works from a wide range of courses at an exhibition at the leading specialist art and design college, including fashion, photography, 3D design, fine art and design crafts. The programme at The Northern School of Art includes Access to Higher Education Diploma, A-Levels, Foundation Diploma, and BTEC Extended Diplomas.

Hundreds of visitors to the exhibition are anticipated over the next five days, where they can expect to see a fantastic array of designs in clothing, wallpapers, clothing, prints and 3D designs.

18-year-old Tianne Coleman from Park End in Middlesbrough has just completed her BTEC Diploma in Interior, Architecture & Product (3D Design). Her final major project was based on a secluded and serene holiday home with a minimalist design, and is celebrating receiving an unconditional offer to study architecture at Lincoln University.

Tianne said: “I was able to learn about interior design as well as architecture, and have built up my digital portfolio of work which has been invaluable, and led me to the offer at university with no interview.

“It feels a little surreal now that it is all finished. It has been a lot of hard work but it is all done now and I am very happy with how it turned out.”

Roisin Mennell, 18 from Guisborough, is celebrating completing her BTEC Diploma in Textiles, and also secured a place at Ravensbourne in London to study fashion promotion. She also achieved second place at the UK’s National Fashion Textiles Competition as part of the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show.

For her final major project titled ‘Connectivity’ she explored how people are connected with themselves and how technology, nature and people enable connectivity to occur.

Roisin said: “This course gave me the opportunity to just concentrate on textiles, applying the theory to practice and application and fully immersing myself in the whole creative process in preparation for university. It’s just brilliant to have all the work together here at the show. To be able to look back on the whole time I have been here at CCAD, it’s just sums up everything.”

Ben Whitelock, 17, from Ingleby Barwick, studied for a BTEC Diploma in Art & Design and as part of the show, he exhibited his final project, the creation of a creature for a fantasy-based post-apocalyptic setting.

He said: “I’m so happy it is finally finished. It has taken three months to build with lots of late nights and 14 hours days but it has been worth it as I love it. I originally came to do interactive media but changed to art and design as I could explore different techniques.”

Ben is going on to study Production Design for Stage and Screen at The Northern School of Art’s university-level campus in Hartlepool, and is planning to work in film and television prop and set making.

18-year old Georgia Dolan from Middlesbrough has just completed her BTEC Diploma in Design Crafts at the college. For her final project she produced a body of work titled ‘And So The Adventure Begins’, exploring her love of travelling and surface design, with the inspiration of a plane trip to Mexico and a bus to The Northern School of Art blended with past memories with family and friends.”

She said: “The build up to the show was stressful but it was a good stress. Seeing it all up on display I feel really proud of myself. It means so much as this is a personal project for me and my family. I have really enjoyed the industry-based approach to this course, including the promotional and business aspects.”

Georgia was also nominated for the Principal’s Award, and is also looking forward to studying for a degree in textiles and surface design at The Northern School of Art in Hartlepool.

Elise Walker, 18, from Stockton, studied for a BTEC Diploma in Fashion & Textiles, and can’t wait to start her degree in fashion buying and merchandise at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her final major project – Gender Neutral Fashion – was inspired by the growing androgynous trend and how the fashions of the past have changed and affected people attitudes towards fashions today.

She said: “I have always wanted to do fashion and came to open day at CCAD. I would recommend this course to anyone considering a career in fashion, and it is great how much you learn about design on the course. For the summer show, we have spent so long and worked so hard, so when people that you don’t know comment on how good it is, it’s great.”

21-year-old Emilia Mack from Acklam in Middlesbrough, has just completed her BTEC Diploma in Fine Art. Her final major project was based on a ‘Building Castles in the Sky’, exploring social housing and communities affected by regeneration, and for this she created an ‘ideal home’ setting.

On the show, she said: “Everybody has been doing their own thing for months, burrowing away doing the work intensely. Seeing what everyone else has created and how it all comes together is lovely and a real celebration. It has taken me a few years to get through college so it is a big celebration for me too.”

Emilia is going on to study a degree in fine art at the prestigious Central St Martins in London.

Eden Calgie, 19, from Marton, studied for a BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, and can’t wait to start his degree in fine art at Birmingham City University. His final major project – Le Bin – explores the exaggerated feelings of low self-esteem, and how people distance themselves from their surroundings.

Eden was also nominated for the Principal’s Award. He said: “I didn’t realise how much I would learn about contemporary artists through doing the contextualised studies part of the course. Not having come from and art and design background I didn’t realise how well I would fit in and get engrossed in my artwork. It was satisfying getting the space ready for the show and I quite enjoyed it, as I’m not shy of hard work, and I was amazed to be nominated for the award.”

He added; “The students and the staff inspire one another here, which is what you want in an institution.”

Pat Chapman, Head of Employability and External Relations, said: “My congratulations to all the award nominees and winners. It has been an exceptionally strong year and I hope the students celebrate their achievements. It is always inspiring to see the creativity and talent that our students produce.

“The students have worked tremendously hard over the course of their studies, and they can be justly proud of their final work, as I am sure are their family and friends. I encourage people to come along to the exhibitions and see the incredible talents on display for themselves. The work on show displays maturity and readiness for their next step. Anyone visiting will see the industry level standard of the work our students.”